Prunier Lot 40 81 Years Old Grande Champagne Specially Selected by the Whisky Mercenary 55% 1940

Professional reviews

BOW (90)

Serge Valentin (90)

Perhaps another demi-john, or is this older than 80 years? This is certainly a 1940, so clearly wartime cognac. No ideas if they keep distilling in wartime Ukraine, we certainly hope so, perhaps their famous vodka 'Nemiroff'? They also make 'cognac' brandy but I don't think I've ever tried any. Colour: dark amber. Nose: some burnt oak and many spices at first, surely some dark chocolate and some espresso, then molasses, black raisins and tamarind. It's not that it's locked, but water should make wonders here… With water: old style, more on meaty, savoury notes, beef stock, lovage, onion soup, olives, and even a little shochu, plus camphor. This is terrific. Many dried figs, large or small, are singing in the choir in the back. Mouth (neat): very concentrated, very piney and even tarry at first, with a lot of toffee, raisins, and a feeling of 'old sherry monster from Speyside'. Absolutely! No gamey flavours so far. Oh and it wants, even begs for water. With water: water brings out more wood, black tea, raw chocolate, grape pips, and simply oloroso. Now many currants do keep it afloat, so to speak. This part would suggest that this cognac did, indeed, spend its whole long life in oak. Finish: long, and rather more on old pineau, PX, or Banyuls, but always with a lot of chocolate. More spices in the aftertaste, led by cinnamon, then caraway and clove. A little oregano, perhaps. Comments: I believe we shall use the word equilibrium once more.