GrapeDiggaz - Cognac XO

Volume: 0.7 litres | Alcohol content: 46.3% | Chill filtration: No | Colouring: No

Special Features:

This XO brings together matured eaux-de-vie from several growing areas within the Cognac region. Developed jointly with Vallein Tercinier, the blend draws particularly on spirits from Fins Bois, Bons Bois and Grande Champagne; its oldest components have matured for up to 25 years. The Cognac forms part of the GrapeDiggaz Core Range and is bottled in small batches of 500 litres each.

GrapeDiggaz uses no added sugar or colouring and does not chill-filter the Cognac. Bottled at 46.3%, it combines fruity and honeyed impressions with leather, tobacco and chocolate. It is suited both to tasting neat and to mixed drinks. The amber-coloured spirit comes in a 0.7-litre bottle with a wooden closure and without gift packaging.

Tasting Notes:

• Nose: On the nose, apricots, plums, orange and lime mingle with honey and cake. Mature oak, tobacco and leather complement the fruit. Oily walnut notes then emerge, while cinnamon and black pepper remain subtle. Further aromas recall tree-ripened peaches, Riesling, dried apricots and silver fir honey. Forest floor, intense dark chocolate and Voatsiperifery pepper add depth to the nose. Lime zest and orange peel also feature.
• Palate: Honey and bright fruit notes lead on the palate, particularly orange, bergamot and white peach. Gentle hints of brown sugar and raisin cake mingle with mild spice and emerging rancio. White chocolate, cold-whipped honey and butterscotch round out the flavours. Sun-dried apricots meet mineral limestone notes and earthy hints of Burgundy truffles.
• Finish: The finish lasts quite a while. Honey and polished wood notes accompany it, with gentle nutty tones lingering.

Distillery/Bottler:

Vallein Tercinier is based at the Domaine des Forges in Chermignac. Louis Vallein acquired the estate in 1791; Georges Vallein founded the trading house in 1850 and began selling bottled Cognac. The family combined its work as estate owners and distillers with trading and the creation of its own blends. In the post-war period, the eight stills supplied spirits both for the family's own house and for other trading houses. In the 1990s, Louis and Catherine Tercinier divided the estate and trading responsibilities between them.

GrapeDiggaz is a joint project by Wu DRAM Clan and Kirsch Import. The team personally selects small batches, working closely with the producers. Through the brand, it also aims to make Cognac and Armagnac more accessible to whisky and rum enthusiasts. For its Cognacs, the team chose the family-run house of Vallein Tercinier, whose spirits form the basis of this XO.

Facts: