Introducing the New Bouju K&L Exclusive Cognac

Our value-priced, terroir-driven Bouju Fines Saveur Cognac is finally here and it's one hot deal in the world of French brandy.

Daniel Bouju K&L Exclusive Cognac Fines Saveurs $39.99 - Francois Bouju is the man running the show these days at Bouju Cognac. He's incredibly nice, knows a lot about distillation, taught us a great deal about the region and its wines, and impressed us beyond any expectation we had going in to our appointment. His vines are planted in the best soils: rich limestone which helps to preserve acidity in the fruit, and he is a stickler for detail. The reason the Grand Champagne region makes what is considered the best Cognac is because the soil creates grapes that are fully ripe with high acidity levels and low alcohol. This is important because distillation is about concentrating the flavor of a base substance. If you've got a wine sitting in a tank oxidizing, you're going to have an oxidized flavor in the Cognac. High acidity levels help prevent oxidation while distillation is taking place and prevent the need for stabilizing sulfur (none of us want to taste a distilled fart). At the same time, you need wine with a low alcohol level as to not overpower the flavor of the fruit. Full ripeness is also necessary to have any flavor at all. You can't simply pick early to preserve acidity because your wine will taste terrible. The resulting flavor of the Fines Saveurs is a higher acid, fruit-forward style of Cognac. This is zingy, expressive brandy that exemplifies the quality of Bouju's base wine. More of a mixer, or rocks drink, than a supple sipper, Bouju is the perfect bottle for your French 75 or Sidecar cocktail. A hot deal.

If you want Cognac that tastes like oak chips and caramel coloring, this isn't the Cognac for you. The wine takes center stage with the Bouju Fines Saveur and it all starts here: in the ground, in the vineyard, outside the Bouju estate. I'm really excited for people to try this!

-David Driscoll