Help Needed: Cognac

[OCgirl]

I need help from those who know their spirits (the alcohol, not... actual spirits) well.

Our anniversary is coming up and I want to get my fiance a bottle of Cognac as an anniversary gift. We typically don't exchange gifts for this particular celebration but I just want to give him something little that he loves since he's worked hard this year (2011). He LOVES cognac and often talks about it. I personally don't drink and have very little to no knowledge of anything related to that particular topic. I listen to him most of the time but the only things I remember are Cognac is a type of brandy and it's named after a city in France (now I understand how guys feel when they have to listen to us talk about diamonds).

My question is: Can you recommend me some nice cognac (500ML or 750ML) bottles within the price range of $50 to $100MAX? I know he likes Remy Martin but I was wondering if there are other good choices?

Thank you so much for your help!!!

 

[Dancing Fire]

i love Cordon Bleu... about $100 for a 750 ml. Hennessy V.S.O.P is $42. Remy V.S.O.P at Costco is $33.

 

[Circe]

I'm a fan of:

Lepanto

Pierre Ferrand (there is a range of prices - in my opinion, the mid-range one is smoother than the oldest)

and for a slight difference, Calvados.

 

[OCgirl]

i love Cordon Bleu... about $100 for a 750 ml. Hennessy V.S.O.P is $42. Remy V.S.O.P at Costco is $33.

I think he has the Remy Martin VSOP. He really likes that one.
How is the Hennessy VSOP compare to that?

What am I looking for when it comes to this? smoothness? aging? I saw quite a few that has some flavors added like fruits, vanilla (!), oak (from the barrel?) and cinnamon. Is it safter to stay way from flavors?

 

[JulieN]

Martell Cordon Bleu, it's the best in this price range from the big houses.

 

[JulieN]

The flavors come from time spent in the oak, not from being artificially added. A Henny VSOP is not really going to be anything amazing. http://www.klwines.com/content.asp??N=58+4294965424+99&Ne=3&Nr=OR%28OutofStock%3AN%2CInventory+Location%3ASpecial+Order%29&Ns=p_lotGeneratedFromPOYN%7C0%7C%7CQtySoldLast30%7C1%7C%7CQtySoldLifetime%7C1

 

[Dancing Fire]

i love Cordon Bleu... about $100 for a 750 ml. Hennessy V.S.O.P is $42. Remy V.S.O.P at Costco is $33.

I think he has the Remy Martin VSOP. He really likes that one.
How is the Hennessy VSOP compare to that?

What am I looking for when it comes to this? smoothness? aging? I saw quite a few that has some flavors added like fruits, vanilla (!), oak (from the barrel?) and cinnamon. Is it safter to stay way from flavors?

for $100 Cordon Bleu is #1. for < $50 Hennessy VSOP is my pick.

 

[TravelingGal]

I'm a fan of:

Lepanto

Pierre Ferrand (there is a range of prices - in my opinion, the mid-range one is smoother than the oldest)

and for a slight difference, Calvados.

Ditto Pierre Ferrand. The reserve should be in your price range.

Meh to Hennessy VSOP and Remy VSOP. Possible to get the Remy XO for around 100 bucks. Costco is a good place to look. I haven't had the Martel Cordon Bleu, so I can't comment there. Hennessy XO seems to cost more than Remy.

 

[Dancing Fire]

I'm a fan of:

Lepanto

Pierre Ferrand (there is a range of prices - in my opinion, the mid-range one is smoother than the oldest)

and for a slight difference, Calvados.

Ditto Pierre Ferrand. The reserve should be in your price range.

Meh to Hennessy VSOP and Remy VSOP. Possible to get the Remy XO for around 100 bucks. Costco is a good place to look. I haven't had the Martel Cordon Bleu, so I can't comment there. Hennessy XO seems to cost more than Remy.

out of the three i'd prefer Martel CB.all 3 are in the same price range.

 

[OCgirl]

What's amazing about the cordon bleu? On its own and compare to other cognac.

It's on the high end of my budget but since it's so highly recommended... I guess I'll just get it. But I better get a sip of that... Or I found a really good Cognac pasta recipe probably a waste to use such a nice one to make pasta.

 

[canuk-gal]

What's amazing about the cordon bleu? On its own and compare to other cognac.

It's on the high end of my budget but since it's so highly recommended... I guess I'll just get it. But I better get a sip of that... Or I found a really good Cognac pasta recipe probably a waste to use such a nice one to make pasta.

Make plain pasta and drink the cognac!

 

[Dancing Fire]

What's amazing about the cordon bleu? On its own and compare to other cognac.

It's on the high end of my budget but since it's so highly recommended... I guess I'll just get it. But I better get a sip of that... Or I found a really good Cognac pasta recipe probably a waste to use such a nice one to make pasta.

no hangovers .

25 yrs ago CB came in a green bottle and if you can find one today it would be priceless. i remember back in the early 80's a bottle of 750 Ml was $33.80

 

[JulieN]

Cordon Bleu is super smooth, has the most amazing smells. But now I'm afraid we may have been hyping it too much.

 

[OCgirl]

let me give cordon bleu a shot. Will try the other recommendations down the road. Hopefully he'll like it (or tried it before). He likes cognac but he's very frugal so I think he's only bought bottles for $75 max. Sometime he pays for a glass here and there at the restaurant.

Thanks for all the recommdations. PS is full of people with good tastes (and not just with diamonds). Amazing!

 

[Dancing Fire]

let me give cordon bleu a shot. Will try the other recommendations down the road. Hopefully he'll like it (or tried it before). He likes cognac but he's very frugal so I think he's only bought bottles for $75 max. Sometime he pays for a glass here and there at the restaurant.

Thanks for all the recommdations. PS is full of people with good tastes (and not just with diamonds). Amazing!

if he doesn't please save it for me...

 

[OCgirl]

let me give cordon bleu a shot. Will try the other recommendations down the road. Hopefully he'll like it (or tried it before). He likes cognac but he's very frugal so I think he's only bought bottles for $75 max. Sometime he pays for a glass here and there at the restaurant.

Thanks for all the recommdations. PS is full of people with good tastes (and not just with diamonds). Amazing!

if he doesn't please save it for me...

Sure!!! And I'll use some to try out that recipe of mine

 

[soocool]

Remy Martin 1738 (could be between $50 & $75). A step up from the VSOP and a notch below the XO. (The XO, if you are lucky, you can get for around $120.00 My DH is a Remy fan and dislikes Hennesey. Remy is much smoother, Hennessy has a bite (in other words, your fiance may not like Hennessy

My Dh brought back Hine XO http://www.hinecognac.com/cognac.asp back from Europe once and it was his all time favorite (Hmm,me thinks I will get it for him for Valentine's Day)

 

[soocool]

Your fiance may like this site: http://www.cognac-expert.com/

My DH talks about cognac all the time too. Oh, and if you are ever stuck for another present there are always cognac glasses http://www.cognacglasses.com/

 

[Dancing Fire]

Remy Martin 1738 (could be between $50 & $75). A step up from the VSOP and a notch below the XO. (The XO, if you are lucky, you can get for around $120.00 My DH is a Remy fan and dislikes Hennesey. Remy is much smoother, Hennessy has a bite (in other words, your fiance may not like Hennessy

My Dh brought back Hine XO http://www.hinecognac.com/cognac.asp back from Europe once and it was his all time favorite (Hmm,me thinks I will get it for him for Valentine's Day)

then get him bottle of Louis XIII...

 

[mrs taylor]

cognac is the only alcohol I drink - I absolutely love it. I too think Hennessey has a bite. It's not a favorite of mine.

 

[soocool]

Remy Martin 1738 (could be between $50 & $75). A step up from the VSOP and a notch below the XO. (The XO, if you are lucky, you can get for around $120.00 My DH is a Remy fan and dislikes Hennesey. Remy is much smoother, Hennessy has a bite (in other words, your fiance may not like Hennessy

My Dh brought back Hine XO http://www.hinecognac.com/cognac.asp back from Europe once and it was his all time favorite (Hmm,me thinks I will get it for him for Valentine's Day)

then get him bottle of Louis XIII...

Actually, DH said that when he retires he is treating himself to a bottle of Louis the XIII and a new sports car. He did get me a new ering a few years ago.

 

[OCgirl]

Remy Martin 1738 (could be between $50 & $75). A step up from the VSOP and a notch below the XO. (The XO, if you are lucky, you can get for around $120.00 My DH is a Remy fan and dislikes Hennesey. Remy is much smoother, Hennessy has a bite (in other words, your fiance may not like Hennessy

My Dh brought back Hine XO http://www.hinecognac.com/cognac.asp back from Europe once and it was his all time favorite (Hmm,me thinks I will get it for him for Valentine's Day)

then get him bottle of Louis XIII...

Actually, DH said that when he retires he is treating himself to a bottle of Louis the XIII and a new sports car. He did get me a new ering a few years ago.

I say a new ering for a bottle of Louis is a fair trade.