Maison Rouge VS is an amber cognac with an orange glow. The first impression is floral with hints of rose petals, but slowly the fruit comes forward in full bloom. A light lemony flavor gives way to traces of vanilla, and the finish is spicy with a cinnamon fragrance. One the palate, the pear marries cinnamon and vanilla for a soft, ripe finish.

The Hardy cognac house created Maison Rouge, like their other products, in tribute and remembrance to cognac's history. A barn with red tiles from Roumaziere used to cellar aging Hardy's cognacs on the way to Saintes, where it is rumored that a mysterious Paradis known only to family members harbored very old casks of eaux-de-vie of considerable concentration. To honor these vermilion roofs of famous reputation and after carefully blending, Maison Rouge was created. It reflects the brilliance of this legendary color where tones of fruitiness and ripeness melt together with magical balance.

Bottle Size: 750ml

Maison Rouge VSOP is a deep mahogany cognac. This eau-de-vie born on the fruity side shows more vanilla, tobacco and cedar hints because of the aging process. Cinnamon becomes nutmeg mixed with flavors traditionally associated with aged cognac such as rancio and candied fruit. On the palate, spices and dry fruit aromas embrace toasted bread notes. Its spicy finish provides a subtle tone of nutmeg and prune.

The Hardy cognac house created Maison Rouge, like their other products, in tribute and remembrance to cognac's history. A barn with red tiles from Roumaziere used to cellar aging Hardy's cognacs on the way to Saintes, where it is rumored that a mysterious Paradis known only to family members harbored very old casks of eaux-de-vie of considerable concentration. To honor these vermilion roofs of famous reputation and after carefully blending, Maison Rouge was created. It reflects the brilliance of this legendary color where tones of fruitiness and ripeness melt together with magical balance.

Bottle Size: 750ml

Over three decades ago, Ansley Coale picked up a hitchhiker along Route 101 just north of San Francisco. The hitchhiker Hubert Germain-Robin was of French origin and came from a family that had been producing cognac since 1782. As the two drove northward in Coale's car, Hubert spoke of his family's background in distillation. "Hubert wanted to distill using craft methods handed down for centuries from master to apprentice," recalls Coale, who eventually teamed up with the hitchhiker to found Craft Distillers in 2003. After purchasing an antique cognac still from an abandoned distillery, Hubert and Coale built a redwood shed in northern California and began distilling spirits. Craft Distillers Maison Surrenne range is a collaborative effort between Germain-Robin and Cognac's largest remaining family-owned producer: "Surrenne's eight aging cellars hold extensive stocks of aged distillates that have been maintained pure and unblended. There are four distilleries, including the ancient installation in the chateau of Triac. The home distillery is on the Quai de lIle Madame on the banks of the Charente river in Jarnac. Great cognac reflects the land and climate from which its grapes were taken. The bottlings come from specific regions, and we further emphasize their individuality by using cognacs from a particular vintage, or a single distillery, or even an individual cask. Many of these bottlings are unblended, and the rarities are unfiltered." (Craft Distillers). Maison Surrenne Galtaud is an exceptional cognac that is from the single-still Galtaud distillery, founded in 1800 in the village of Mainxe. Rated the #14 Personal All-Time Favorite Brandy of F. Paul Pacult, Editor of F. Paul Pacult's Spirit Journal: June 2016.