Issue link: https://digital.copcomm.com/i/912565
80 / the tasting panel / december 2017 CATEGORY REPORT TASTING NOTES Martell VS Single Disllery Fine Cognac ($33) A visual beauty with deep amber/ochre hues and scents of grapes, sandalwood, and Brazil nuts. On the palate, mango and banana nut bread impart an elegance and subtle sweetness. Mid-palate begins an apple pie character with a satisfying aftertaste, spirited with an elegant orange-nutmeg chocolate finish. 95 —Meridith May Martell Blue Swift V.S.O.P ($50) An 80-proof eau-de-vie de vin made of 100% Martell Cognac finished in Bourbon casks from Kentucky. With the colors of an amber sunset and dark russet, aromas of violets, plums, and mocha are gentle and serene. The palate is broad-shouldered and savory, with notes of cigar, new leather, and cedar. The fruit comes in secondarily, with grilled peaches, coffee, and black cherry. The vanilla finish confirms the bourbon barrel influence and keeps the peppered fruit extended on the tongue. 93 —M.M. PERNOD RICARD USA Leading the Way: MARTELL More than 50 years before America became an indepen- dent nation, Jean Martell began making Cognac in his home country of France. In the three centuries since, Martell has remained steadfast to its founder's notion of curiosity and now stands as the oldest of the great Cognac houses. To prove its commitment to this philoso- phy, the brand launched two new expressions: Martell Blue Swift (SRP $50) and Martell VS Single Distillery (SRP $33). An eau-de-vie de vin made of 100% Cognac VSOP, Blue Swift pays homage to Martell's ties to America—his Cognac was one of the first spirits to ship from France to the U.S.—by finishing the spirit in Kentucky Bourbon casks. This finish with the sweetness of bourbon and the sophistication of Cognac makes the spirit a perfect choice for putting a twist on whiskey cocktails. Like the name implies, VS Single Distillery reimagines the conventions of Cognac and blends eaux-de-vie from a single distillation source. "Martell is well-positioned to benefit from Millennials' appetite for brown spirits," notes Brian Smith, Brand Manager for Martell. "Overall, Cognac is a category with a strong sense of place, and Martell has several centuries of stories to tell, a desire to innovate, and a longstanding tradition that speaks largely to what these consumers are after. Not to mention we have amazing liquid; Martell is a balanced, round Cognac, and these expressions showcase that."