Hine Rare French Cognac, Smooth & Elegant Fine Champagne Cognac, Best Enjoyed Neat, Rare Hine Cognac, Grande & Fine Region Grapes, Fruity & Floral Cognac, 70cl, 40% ABV

Product Information

Gran Mariner differentiates itself from the other cognac brands because it’s more than just a cognac. In fact, due to its recipe, it’s not a cognac at all. Even though it contains cognac, it’s a liqueur because it also contains sugar and bitter orange flavours. While it comes in a wide range of expressions, its Cordon Rouge with its flavours of caramel, candied orange peels, and nutty sweetness is the most well-known by far. While some spirits rely on specific terms (like bottled in bond) or age statements, cognac comes in VS (aged for at least two years), VSOP (aged for at least four years), XO (aged at least ten years), XXO (aged at least 14 years), and beyond. On top of these terms, there are also other offshoots like Hors d’âge which is used to describe a cognac that has matured past the official age range. There are also other phrases like Napoleon, Reserve, Extra Cognac, and Cuvee Cognac that you might find on longer-aged expressions. How Should You Drink Cognac?

Aside from Cognac brandy made in the south west of France, there's also Armagnac brandy, which comes from just a little further south than the Cognac region. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. When the cognac finally lands in the bottle, its adjoining age statement denotes the youngest vintage in the blend. There are three general age statements: A fresh, fruity, and rather elegant opening is dominated by red apple, apricots – almost like apricot jam – and a touch of brioche. The luscious aromas of yeast and sweet dough, slightly toasted, offer another nuance with a sprinkle of caster sugar and a caramelized finish. This Cognac offers a very elegant, floral complexity, elevated by a gentle whiff of olibanum.

As a matter of fact, Hine Rare VSOP is a perfectly versatile cognac. You could drink it with a splash of tonic water, ginger ale, or any filler of your choice, resulting in a very refreshing summer libation. Since Hine is a more mellow, wine-focused type of Cognac, I like to pair it with certain cigars, despite my usual cautiousness of spirit and cigar combinations, given the high ABV. It can be overwhelming to smoke a spicy cigar and then challenge your palate even more by pairing it with a high-alcohol, woody and tannic beverage. Not so with Hine Rare, which I would enjoy alongside a characterful Connecticut shade wrapped cigar with depth and body in the filler tobaccos. Alternatively, a Maduro that could take a layer of freshness and some extra liveliness, but is not overly spicy, leathery or beefy, would be a great match. The Hine Rare VSOP was awarded gold medals in 2003 and 2007, and given 93 out of a possible 100 points by Wine Enthusiast Magazine. Presentation of the Bottle One of the most famous and most popular types of brandy has to be Cognac – and more specifically, Hennessy. But there's more to brandy than just this well known one, so we've compiled a list of 10 of the best brandy brands in the world.

Shop at Bisquit & Dubouché Shop at Vintage Cellars Shop at The Whisky Exchange Kelt | Image: Supplied 10. Kelt Single vintages have been our signature for decades. Each and every one of them is a liquid snapshot of a particular year, echoing the elaboration of fine wines and champagnes. It takes years for optimum natural conditions to make for a remarkable expression. Many of the biggest cognac brands have seemingly ancient histories. Grosperrin wasn’t founded until 1999. And while this makes it a baby in the cognac world, it hasn’t stopped the brand from crafting high-quality, boundary-pushing spirits in the last two decades. Unlike other cognac houses, Grosperrin simply launches its cognacs by batch number. While they vary depending on the batch, the brand is known for its slightly spicy, fruity, tobacco, and vanilla-filled cognacs. To say D’usse is a brand for the modern cognac drinker is a bit of an understatement. Founded by Jay-z and master cellar master Michel Casavecchia, it’s produced at Château du Cognac, one of the oldest cognac houses in the country. If you’re looking to try this brand, we suggest starting with D’Usse VSOP with its palate of nutty sweetness, vanilla, honey, and cinnamon sugar.

Hine Rare VSOP Details

The vast majority of the best cognac châteaux have been in the game for centuries, and Hine is certainly no exception. Since 1763, the acclaimed brand has been turning grapes into greatness by way of abundant resources and expert production techniques. Virtually everything this top cognac house produces strikes a distinctive accord, and no two releases in the Vintage Collection are exactly the same.

XO (Extra Old)– The youngest vintage in the blend has spent a minimum of six years inside the barrel. Pierre Ferrand has become a well-known name in the cognac world in a relatively short time. While some of the other cognac houses can trace their genesis to the 18th and 19th centuries, Alexandre Gabriel founded Pierre Ferrand in 1989. In the years since, its fanbase has grown thanks largely to consistently great, well-made expressions like its Pierre Ferrand 1840. Known for its slightly spicy, fruity, honey, and caramel-centric flavour profile, it’s a great place to start with this cognac house. VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale)– The youngest vintage in the blend has been aged for at least four years. A terrific VSOP from Hine, Rare is classed as Fine Champagne, meaning that the eaux-de-vie used are all from the Grande or Petite Champagne areas. Around twenty-five distinct eaux-de-vie have been used for the Hine Rare VSOP blend, made from Ugni Blanc grapes from the Grande Champagne (60%) and Petite Champagne (40%) appellations and aged six to twelve years in French Limousin oak barrels. VS (Very Special) – The most common form of cognac, which has been aged for the mandatory minimum of two years.The history of Hine Cognac starts in the 18th Century, when a young man by the name of Thomas Hine from Dorset arrived in Jarnac to undertake administerial work for a Cognac producer. He soon fell in love with the proprietor’s daughter Françoise-Elisabeth and married into the family. Now the son-in-law of the owner, Thomas was able to take on a senior role and used his financial skills to make major changes, developing trade beyond France. In 1817, he officially changed the name of the company to Thomas Hine & Co. After a couple of minutes, the astringency takes a more prominent role on the palate. It reveals layers upon layers of depth, just to balance off the caramelly, raisiny fruit-sweetness. The creamy mouthfeel and texture translate into rich marzipan and white nougat. All in all, this is a rather complex tasting experience, despite this being a VSOP and not a prestige XO bottling. Shop at Courvoisier Shop at Dan Murphy’s Shop at First Choice Bisquit and Dubouché | Image: Supplied 9. Bisquit and Dubouché A living testament to the art of blending, Pierre Ferrand marries various vintages to harmonious effect. Striving for absolute distinction, the brand doesn’t abide by the traditional classifications of VS, VSOP, and XO. Instead, it employs unique designations and occasionally veers outside of regulatory practices. In turn, some output doesn’t fall under the official “cognac” banner, even if it’s crafted entirely from Grande Champagne grapes. Suffice it to say, every aspect of this operation emanates an artisanal vibe. For over 260 years, generations of dedicated craftsmen and women have kept a keen eye on ensuring the longevity of our independent and family-owned heritage and recognized know-how that make our Maison’s cognacs one of a kind.