Jean Fillioux No.1 Cognac (500ml)

Tasting note: [Lot no.0918] While the age isn't stated, the deep copper colour of this Grande Champagne Cognac indicates long maturation (the importers say it's over 60 years old). A luscious, lipsmacking and masculine hors d'age expression, it opens with sensuous aromas of nectarine, raisins and baking spices as well as drier notes of pepper and cedar wood and continues to evolve after air contact; 46% ABV amps up the body and mouthfeel; immediately warm and inviting with the perfect juxtaposition of succulent orchard fruits and oaky astringency, finishing with nectarine, passionfruit, buttery oak and late pepper. Super long, this delivers on all sensory accounts. First class. 46% Alc./Vol.

Other reviews... This one is said to be sixty years of age, depending on the sources. Colour: deep gold. Nose: oh! Now we’re really talking, with quinces, citrons, fennel seeds, marmalade, lime blossom, orange blossom, spearmint, liquorice wood, wormwood, woodruff… All those tiny herbs and plants do really make it complex and just pretty sublime. With Cognac, age does matter, if I may… Mouth: love this. It’s pretty unpolished, even a tad rough, but that’s an asset here. Perfect liquorice plus orange combo at first, beeswax, then touches of cider, cardamom, blackcurrants, pomegranates… I’m even finding a little cinchona (Apérol, just ten times nicer). Finish: long, a tad rough (again, an asset in this context), with a little orange-flavoured fudge. Perhaps. Comments: totally high class. Not sure it is true that this is 60yo juice, but anyway, quality’s really very high. 88 points - Serge Valentin, whiskyfun.com

Elected “Favourite” by Terre de Vins magazine in 2001 who also described it as “a dense Cognac which surprises with panache”.
Elected « Eau-de-vie Number 1 Worldwide » by Terre de Vins Magazine in 2017