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

Neat and next to the below bottling (aged in France) of the same vintage to see the difference. Price Our identity is drawn from the heart of two Premier Crus: Grande Champagne & Petite Champagne. Distillation with the lees concentrate the aromas of our white wines tenfold. Light toasted fine-grained wood barrels preserve our cognac's authentic personality that is celebrated around the world. Fortune favours the bold, however, and not only did Hine find himself imprisoned in the middle of Cognac country, in an established Cognac house, he also found himself in the good company of Françoise-Elisabeth, the daughter of his hosts. He went on to marry her (downright cheeky, if you ask me), but he assumed the family business from her father and gave it his own name in 1817.

Hine Rare VSOP Cognac | Master of Malt Hine Rare VSOP Cognac | Master of Malt

These single estate and single vintage Cognacs from the Bonneuil vineyard in Grand Champagne are about producing and demonstrating Cognacs with a wine approach. Both versions we try are aged to around 19 years old and come from the same plot, meaning the only difference is the year they were harvested (so what the grapes tastes like that year). There are around 8,000 bottles released and Rudolph, who is hosting our tasting, explains the expressions need longer ageing, but are still an interesting experiment into terroir. Nose 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. Camus is one of the few cognac brands to have remained independent since opening in 1863, and it is fiercely proud of it. Having operated with the same philosophy through five generations, Camus offers its band of loyal consumers an unrivaled level of consistency. This traditional XO with a modern design is a celebration of both old and new, a new and exciting experience in the present that simultaneously pays its respects to the past. This elegant XO releases aromas of sweet vanilla, ripe green fruits with some delicate earthy tones punctuating the sweet and fruity notes, a perpetual play between fruit and oak.The result is an extraordinary cognac that offers a finish that can evolve on the palate for an hour. Some of these eaux-de-vie can take up to 70 years to reach their peak, so needless to say, Louis XIII has a vested interest in the future. Being such a versatile style of Cognac, Hine Rare could play so many different roles as a pairing option. I would highly recommend a little experiment, putting your bottle of Hine Rare VSOP into the freezer overnight, and then enjoy it neat to accompany certain meals. Seafood, for example, goes particularly well with this ice-cold serve: salmon tartare or a super fresh ceviche would make for a sensational experience that will enlighten your taste buds. Great balance and length carry different sensations to an impressive, very pleasant finish. There are some orchards thrown into the overall picture, sweet leather, and a final glimpse of the exceptional base wine character that is so typical for the house of Hine. In the simplest terms, cognac is a type of brandy produced using white grapes. Like champagne, a cognac can only be described as such if it is made in the Cognac region, located in France’s southwest. The grape juice is double-distilled in copper stills to produce a young spirit called eau de vie (water of life), which is then aged in oak casks. Those casks must be either brand new (virgin casks) or previously used to age cognac. Compare this with the Scotch whisky industry, which can use casks previously used to age a variety of other spirits, like bourbon or even tequila.

Hine | The Champagne Company Selection of Hine | The Champagne Company

It is also believed he took several barrels of cognac with him to St. Helena, where he was exiled, and even shared it with the British soldiers on his journey there. Unlike Napoleon, Courvoisier succeeded in conquering the world, at least in sales. Its XO blend, which contains eaux-de-vie aged from 11 to 25 years, is one of the best-selling of its kind.Founded in 1763 by Englishman, Thomas Hine, Hine is highly regarded around the world for its refined and complex expressions, as well as the House’s impressive collection of single vintage Cognacs. Find out more about Hine Cognac and our trip to Maison Hine here Tasting Notes: Hine Cognac H by Hine VSOP Cognac Established in 1763 by Thomas Hine, the House of Hine – like all the great cognac producers – has been around for a long time. The house was built on the principle that you cannot have a great cognac without great white wine. For that reason, Hine draws its identity from the heart of two Premier Crus: Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. While other houses strive for complete consistency year after year, Hine produces cognacs made with vintage crus that encapsulate the uniqueness of the stated year. Single vintages have been Hine’s signature for decades but are possible only when nature provides the optimum conditions. If you don’t want to wait for the next vintage to emerge, you can still experience the best of Hine with its Antique XO blend. This is the combination of 40 eaux-de-vie produced exclusively with Grande Champagne grapes. A real treat to try, Orangerie is only available to buy from The Orangerie shop at Maison Hine in Jarnac. Only 500 editions of this bottle have been produced, all using cognacs aged in the cellar below venue . With an average age of 18 years, it is like the Homage but without its four vintages. Nose Dramatically different on the nose to the 2006! Much richer with dates and raisins combining with red cherries. Taste

Hine 1985 Cognac Grande Champagne Landed 1987 Bot.2002 Hine 1985 Cognac Grande Champagne Landed 1987 Bot.2002

The maturation of Hine Cognac also benefits from the insistence to preserve this local, familiar approach. By housing its cellar two metres below the level of the close River Charente, Hine allows high humidity to naturally engineer the conditions that lend the aging process of this Cognac to develop greater complexity and structure. With rich aromas, pronounced oak and the highly sought ‘rancio’ characteristic, Hine makes Cognac reminiscent of the early incarnations so romantically cherished in France. However if you’re looking for a vintage comparison between Early Landed and Jarnac aged, why not try Hine 1983 Vintage Cognac alongside Hine 1983 Early Landed Vintage Cognac . Hine Triomphe Whilst the Bonneuil Single Estate bottlings were about terroir and vintage, these next two speak to ageing. Aged 25 years, these are still young by Cognac standards, meaning that there isn’t too much oak interaction from the barrels. This “Early Landed” edition has been aged in the UK where humidity is higher and constant, and temperature lower and constant compared to Jarnac, meaning less oxidation, less Angel Share loss and slower maturation. NoseThis is the same liquid as the previous bottle but has been aged in the cellars under The Orangerie at Maison Hine in Jarnac, France, where conditions are very different. Nose On the palate, the warming sensation of spices only serves to enhance and lift the sweet and exotic vanilla, complemented by notes of hazelnut and quince. Accents of fig tart and blonde tobacco also present themselves on the palate in a long and lingering finish. This XO may not boast a typical flavor profile for a Grande Champagne blend, but it certainly proves why this region is considered the premier cru with its complexity and depth of character. Awards At Kelt, they believe this influence is crucial to the liquid, which is why the brand takes its barrels on a 90-day sea journey around the world before bottling. Kelt considers this its own essential stage of maturation and means it can offer the original taste of exported cognac. The highly regarded Kelt XO Tour du Monde (Tour of the World) shows there is method in the madness. 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.

H by Hine VSOP Cognac : The Whisky Exchange H by Hine VSOP Cognac : The Whisky Exchange

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. Hine Rare comes in the classic-looking, iconically shaped bottle that is typical for Thomas Hine & Co. It’s a worthy presentation for a beautiful spirit, which offers tremendous value for money. Closing Thoughts

Further Reading

Although owned by the House of Rémy Martin, Louis XIII is worthy of its own section due to its position at the pinnacle of cognac production. A single blend of Louis XIII can contain up to 1,200 of the most treasured eaux-de-vie in its vast cellar. Records the default button state of the corresponding category & the status of CCPA. It works only in coordination with the primary cookie. This special edition Cognac has been produced by cellar master, Eric Forget, using a blend of 1983, 1984, 1986 and 1987 “Early Landed” Grande Champagne Cognacs that were matured in the UK, as well as some XO Cognac from Hine’s cellars in Jarnac. Nose 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. If you’re looking for something truly special, however, the spectacular Hennessy XO x Kim Jones edition will certainly make your drinks cabinet pop. The maison partnered with the Dior artistic director in early 2023 to create a capsule collection featuring two decanters, as well as a pair of sneakers.