2011

Germain-Robin Brandy

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Germain-Robin Fine Alambic Brandy Lot 25
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40 to $50
Website

What the Distillery Says:
Hand-distilled on an antique cognac still by Hubert Germain-Robin, master cognac distiller, in Mendocino County, California.

Wonderful Californian fruit overtones, with appealing floral aromas and a sensuous viscosity in the mouth. Much better than VSOP cognacs.

What Richard Says:
Nose: This one is fruitier and a little less floral that typical cognac. Fall leaves, fresh cut grass, lemons, and fresh grated ginger stand out. It’s also a little more alcoholic on the nose than you would expect at 80 proof.
Palate: Light, delicate, grassy, not overly sweet. It’s very refreshing. No a typical cognac-type palate.
Finish: The finish is a little musty, not too woody, dry, and rather clean. There are are more hints of cognac-type flavors on the finish than either the nose or palate.
Comments: I had a little fun with Matt a few years back. We were exchanging whiskey samples and one of the samples I gave him had no label. I told him just to try it and tell me what he thought. I got a lot of guesses for various whiskeys but the end result was that he really liked the sample and wanted to know what I’d given him. Well, it was a generous sample from my first bottle of Germain-Robin. It’s been around for over 20 years but I only discovered it about five years ago. I’ve bought several bottles since then. I was, and still am blown away by the quality of this American brandy. The makers have a great story and a really great product. I really think this is a stand out product for cognac, brandy, and whiskey fans alike.
Rating: Stands Out

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Duty Free & Travel Retail Shopping

/ / Bourbon, Other Whisk(e)ys, Richard's Blog, Scottish Whisky

NOTE:  Richard posted this originally in Nov 2011; as prices and even what is/isn’t available has changed – Gary updated in Jan 2019.

The holidays are once again right around the corner. For most people in the U.S. this means two things…gift giving and travel. So with that in mind I thought I would pontificate on the intersection where those two things meet whiskey. Duty Free/Travel Retail shopping immediately come to mind.

I’m sure that most of you who have done any type of international travel have seen whiskey for sale somewhere. It might be a small duty free liquor section in the gift shop of your cruise ship or a massive store in Heathrow. If you’ve flown out of Cancun then you can’t actually get to your gate without going through the duty free store. The selections may be big or small but how do you know what to buy?

Before we start I want to dispel the myth that if you get it in a travel shop then it must be a good deal. What once was referred to as “Duty Free” shopping has now morphed into “Travel Retail” shopping. That means that depending on where you are, where you’re going, and what you’re buying the items may not be duty or tax free at all. If you see something that you buy all the time at home then you probably have a good point of reference for the relative value of the purchase. However, if you’re picking up a gift either as planned or on impulse you might be surprised to know that the price of the bottle you are looking at may not be that great. In some instances it might even be more expensive. In this age or smartphones and instance wireless internet connectivity I recommend doing a little homework before pulling the trigger.

If it’s whiskey you are after, look to old favorites, exclusive items, or high-end blends. You need to pay attention to pricing though (and if you’re not sure, that’s what smartphones are for). Some travel retail locations (such as near where the cruise ships dock in Grand Cayman) have historically charged more for some standards than you would pay at home.

Next, I would recommend looking at travel retail exclusive bottlings for something interesting. More often than not you will find Scotch in your search for travel retail exclusives. There are also items that started out as travel retail exclusives, can be found elsewhere in the world, but still may not be available in the United States (so despite not being a pure ‘travel retail exclusive’, if it is up your alley – likely will be cheaper to buy there than say in London).  Also, many (not all) now have web-sites where you can check before your trip.  They may still have items in-store that aren’t on their site, or just the opposite (on the site but not in-stock).  But I always recommend a little web-shopping in advance.

Here’s a brief list of some to keep an eye out for:

Laphroaig fans can look for:
Laphroaig PX Cask
Laphroaig Brodir
Laphroaig The 1815 Edition

Johnnie Walker fans can look for whole bottles from their Explorer’s Club Collection, or they have a sample pack with three 200 mL bottles of Gold Route, Royal Route, and Spice Road.

On the American whiskey front, the selection isn’t as broad, although we do really like the Jack Daniel’s Silver Select if you can find it!

A final thought might be a good Scotch blend. Blends have been getting beat up a good bit in the past decade with the growth of single malts. I can’t seem to throw a cork without hitting a single malt snob these days. The truth is blends are good. Some can be very good. They also seem to have a higher tax/duty mark up and therefore offer great buys in a duty free shop. I’ve regularly found Dewar’s Signature and Chivas Royal Salute 21 Year Old for half of retail price. You might only save 10% or 20% on the bottle of single malt sitting next to it. With deals like that maybe it’s time to see how good blends can be. Personally, I always have a good blend at home and if it’s more than $100 you can bet I got it duty free.

I hope some of this might help you in the near future while waiting for your next flight. I want to be clear that this is purely from personal experience. I have no data from expansive international pricing surveys but I travel regularly and I’m always looking for something interesting. Hopefully, on your next layover or trip to visit the family you can find something interesting too.

Oh by the way, most of the shops gift wrap too. 😉

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Pierre Ferrand Reserve

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Pierre Ferrand Reserve Grande Champagne Cognac
40% ABV/80 Proof
$65 to $70
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The Reserve has depth and density. The fresh roses have transitioned to dried roses, and the bright citrus has softened and mellowed into something richer and more diffuse. A distinct note of honey pervades the nose, and the texture is dense, soft, and silky.

All Ferrand cognacs are derived from vineyards in the heart of the chalk-rich and mineral-laden soils of the Grande Champagne region.

What Richard Says:
Nose: The nose is very sweet and floral. It’s floral in the same vein as the Ambre. Ferrand says roses, I can’t quite be sure that’s it. I also get a citrus sweetness with cinnamon and cloves. It also kind of reminds me of the smell of brand new dress shoes.
Palate: The flavors are a little more muted and coy than the Ambre and it was already muted. Honey sweetness and lots of orchard fruit present if you roll it around for a while.
Finish: The finish is incredibly sweet. It’s almost like the finish on a liqueur. It’s a little woody but it’s a big improvement over the Ambre.
Comments: I’m really liking the influence of the extra 10 years. The 20 year old Reserve is a more reserved and polish older brother to the 10 year old Ambre. At $65 I also think it’s a pretty good buy. If you’re apt to try brandy then go for this one. However, if you don’t like brandy or cognac in general I don’t think this will change your religion on the subject.
Rating: Must Try

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More Information on Old Scout

/ / Bourbon

John Little over at Smooth Ambler was kind enough to send me some more information on their new Old Scout Bourbon. Old Scout Straight Bourbon Whiskey was released on November 2nd. This particular released is sourced from Indiana. The bourbon in the first bottling is five years, just shy of six years old. The next run will tip the six year mark. The recipe for this new bourbon is a higher rye recipe (36%) and it’s bottled at 99 proof/49.5% ABV. There is no chill or carbon filtering prior to bottling. According to John they are “taking every step to make sure the bourbon retains as much of the flavor as possible.”

You can get a bottle for $32 to $35 depending on the state. Right now it’s available at the distillery in West Virginia and you can expect to see it in FL, NY, CT, DC, DE, and MD in the next 10-14 days. It will also start showing up in KY, TN, and VA in about a month. John was kind enough so put a sample in the mail for me so hopefully I’ll have a review up later this month.

I really like the upfront and open approach Smooth Ambler is taking with this. So many “distillers” and bottlers are coming out with sourced bourbons and making it look like they made them. It’s a shame they feel they need to do this. I think more folks you follow Smooth Ambler’s example. Kudos guys!

Drink wisely my friends,

Richard

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Pierre Ferrand Ambre

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Pierre Ferrand Ambre Grande Champagne Cognac
40% ABV/80 Proof
$40
Website

What the Distillery Says:
The Ambre is pure warm comfort. Mellow, rounded, richly aromatic, redolent of prunes and apricots and peaches, it had surprisingly little wood evident. Instead there was light spicy cinnamon and a whisper of vanilla. There’s a distinct floral note of roses as well, and a wonderful whiff of fresh fruit pastries baking in the oven, with a wisp of almond past or marzipan. All Ferrand cognacs are derived from vineyards in the heart of the chalk-rich and mineral-laden soils of the Grand Champagne region.

What Richard Says:
Nose: Almond cookies, roses, and fruit blossoms. It’s like being in a orchard during the first spring blooms.
Palate: The palate is a little more muted than I expected. It’s very mellow with cinnamon and stone fruits.
Finish: The finish is not my favorite. It’s a little tart and acidic. However, a good cigar mellows the finish out nicely.
Comments: I don’t know about all the “wisps” and “whispers” the maker touts but this a very enjoyable brandy. Pierre Ferrand was my first foray into Grande Champagne cognacs and I still keep it close at hand in some form or another. Pierre Ferrand as a range and the Ambre itself stand out among cognacs. If you are a regular brandy drinker I recommend giving it a try. If you’re a hard core whiskey drinker who has never indulged in cognac or brandy I think it might be time to be a little adventurous.
Rating: Stands Out

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