Within the frenetic world of French whiskies, Alfred Giraud is quietly pushing the boundaries. The Giraud household has been making and growing older cognac for generations, and is now placing that experience into premium French whisky. For Voyage, cellar grasp Gaetan Mariolle started to experiment with French robinia casks, a wooden that has sometimes been used for wine, however not for spirits. He needed to be extraordinarily cautious to keep away from the tannins changing into too intense, however as soon as he was glad, the inventory was blended with sweeter sauternes cask-matured single malt. Subsequent, they undertook their first ending experiment, mellowing the mix in XO cognac casks of limousin oak for six months. Suffice to say, Voyage is scarce, with solely 4 or 5 barrels a yr. Rarer nonetheless is Intrigue, a brand new triple malt aged of their signature very outdated cognac casks, with a small affect of recent American oak and a few new French oak from the household’s forestry operations in limousin. The mix was then divided right into a sauvignon blanc cask and an undisclosed “magic” cask, which beforehand contained a 65 yr outdated product so distinctive that they determined to maintain it a secret to forestall imitation. Subsequently, it is a distinctive and unrepeatable whisky, bought solely by means of the Alfred Giraud U.S. web site.
Alfred Giraud Intrigue and Voyage Reviewed
Alfred Giraud Intrigue
92 factors, 51.7%, $463
Small batch experimental whisky with an invigorating nostril of apple, Seckel pear, vanilla, primrose, lemon zest, spring blos- soms, and contemporary linen. It’s a candy and vinous affair, with lemon curd, lime marmalade, vanilla sugar, grapefruit, pear, cognac notes, and black pepper, with creamed coconut rounding out a candy, mouth-saturating end of lemon and vanilla that persists for an eternity. (150 bottles for the U.S.)—Jonny McCormick
Alfred Giraud Voyage
92 factors, 48%, $185
An exploratory mix of two single malts matured in sauternes and French robinia casks and completed in cognac casks. Delight- ful, contemporary, and lilting with orchard fruits, floral notes, gooseberry idiot, chantilly cream, sliced grape, crisp barley, and contemporary apple peel, balanced with gentle oak and a sprinkle of spice. Flavors of black currant, honey, russet apple, and pepper earlier than it succumbs to the cognac’s affect. Most well-liked this one with water. (405 bottles for the U.S.)—Jonny McCormick
