Browsing Posts in: Cognac

Our latest TWE shop tasting featured Irish whiskey producer Teeling, a distiller known for its skill in maturing and ‘finishing’ its whiskey in a variety of casks – some well known, some more obscure. What…

I’m sure you’ve all heard of the big four Cognac houses – Martell, Rémy Martin, Hennessy and Courvoisier – but what about the other 271? With so much diversity on offer, Cognac is the perfect…

At The Whisky Exchange, we are always looking at what’s hot and what’s not. Last September we presented our ideas on upcoming drinks for 2017 at an exclusive event at our London shop, and we…

Cognac expert Michelle Brachet came to our London shop on a mission to convert people to the wonders of this classy spirit. After wowing guests with her choices, it appears she succeeded. And if you…

Today is International Women’s Day, so what better way to show our support than by looking at the way women have shaped our industry over the years. I started out in the industry more than…

The Whisky Exchange blog was busier than ever in 2016, with so much happening in the drinks world to talk about, from shock EU rulings to legendary masterclasses and cool cocktail trends. Here are some…

Christmas is a time to relax and enjoy a well-earned rest, accompanied by delicious food and drink. It’s also a time for festive parties and friends popping round at a moment’s notice, so it’s important…

Poor old Armagnac. It’s frequently in the shadows of its blingier cousin, Cognac, which outsells it by 15 bottles to one, even though Armagnac has a longer history. It’s a fabulous spirit, loaded with character,…

Cognac and Armagnac are the most revered brandies in the world, famed for their elegance and luxury. They both hail from south-west France, and each has a slightly different distilling method, yet both carry sweet,…

The luxurious world of Cognac was centre stage at TWE Vinopolis this week, with Martell pouring five of their best bottles. The youngest we tried was aged for between 10 and 25 years (Cordon Bleu),…

Frapin is one of the most highly rated houses in the Cognac region, with a range of elegant, classy bottlings that reflect the Grande Champagne terroir where its vineyards are based. I met up with…

Continuing our brandy-focused week, we’re moving on to arguably the best-known example: Cognac. Where better to start than with the very first house, Augier? Founded in 1643 by wine merchant Philippe Augier, they were both buyers and…

As the weather turns colder, my after-dinner drinks change from light, summery whiskies to brandy. One of my favourites is Delamain, known for its elegant yet complex Cognacs. We recently welcomed MD Charles Braastad to TWE…

While many spirits have started to focus on smaller producers, there’s one area that is still very much focused on the giants: Cognac. In November last year, looking for something different, we visited one of the…

Christmas is now officially over, the New Year is here, and for me, it’s time to give my body time to regroup. Every January, various charities promote an alcohol-free month; among them this year are Alcohol…

After 12 months of sensible, serious whisky chat, we thought it was time for the TWE blog team to let our hair down – although, judging by the pic, we might struggle with that one….

I’ll be honest. Christmas is my least enjoyable time of year. It’s cold, dark for two-thirds of the day, and my favourite TV programmes are on at different times, ruining my routine – I’m the Grinch of the office….

The Cognac world is dominated by four houses – Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin, who control 85% of the industry between them – but for the latest Whisky Exchange tasting at Vinopolis, the focus…