The brand-new bottling from Malternative Belgium is their first launch from the home of Daniel Bouju. The truth is this was additionally one of many first estates that was found by whisky lovers, years in the past and one of many few that had cask power expressions at the moment.
It’s a household producer within the coronary heart of the Grande Champagne area, who began in 1805. They personal round 15 ha of vineyards within the space, they make their very own spirit and management all different steps. The truth is Pieter defined how Bouju works with a particular bousinage, a toasting of the casks that caramelises the wooden and offers it an additional increase. Then after some years the spirit is moved from these closely toasted casks to older, much less energetic barrels.
Cognac Daniel Boujou Lot 60 ‘Le brûle’ – Grande Champagne (50,5%, Malternative Belgium 2022, 246 btl.)
Nostril: deep and flavoursome, with a transparent trace of Caribbean rum. A very good dose of Demerara sugar, tobacco leaves and cigar containers. Flippantly charred oak. Over-infused Earl Gray tea. Over time it reveals a rising spiciness (nutmeg, clove, cinnamon) in addition to an oxidative rancio aspect and leather-based. A wee bitter fringe of the wooden too.
Mouth: wealthy, at all times with this undertone of brown sugar and molasses, alongside figs and prune jam. Then it goes to liquorice and tobacco, with leather-based and some drops of Fernet Branca. A darkish and natural type, exhibiting medicinal notes and burnt cake but additionally a faint floral edge. Fairly woody, positive, however not overly tannic because the underlying caramelly sweetness retains it in examine.
End: fairly lengthy, chalky and mineral, with loads of salty notes.
This Daniel Boujou steers extra in the direction of oxidative notes and typical rancio, with a great dose of woody notes. A really concentrated and daring type, not unusual for this home, and nearly the equal of a great PX sherry cask in whisky. In the present day’s cognac bottlers could not have ventured into this nook of the cognac spectrum earlier than, so it’s one more wonderful discover. Accessible right now from Malternative-Belgium.com
