Review #: 330
Description: Grosperrin N°28 Borderies Cognac (Lot N°430)
Spirit: Cognac
Background: What will likely be the oldest both in terms of age and distillation date spirit I ever will try, this is a cognac [likely] distilled in 1928. Grosperrin acquired the cask from the widow of a renowned wine maker that has been operating in Bruie in Borderies for over 90 years. The cask was aged in a very dry cellar allowing it to maintain a high ABV as it is bottled at 53.8% after aging for 87 years
Distillery – Unknown
Bottler – Grosperrin
Brand – Grosperrin
Selection – N/A
ABV – 53.8%
Age – 87 Years
Nose – The grape is surprisingly bright and fruity despite the age, though there is still plenty of oak and tannins coming through, menthol, leather, grape jelly, roasted coffee beans
Taste – Oak and tannins come in even on the taste, though not super overwhelming, espresso, chocolate, tobacco, clove, honey, ginger
Finish – Lot’s of raisin, espresso, bitter chocolate, there’s something there that I can’t quite associate with anything (I’m wondering if it’s rancio??) that has like an umami taste to it, then leather and oak just dance along the tongue FOREVER. Seriously, it keeps going, with a tiny bit of orange showing its face through it.
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? I think my friend who provided the sample paid around $300. For that price, I would probably get it as this spirit has seen so much history and is tasty. Though current prices look closer to double that which I don’t think I would.
Thoughts: What a cool thing to be able to try. Even if this tasted like a piece of wood, I’d be enamored at what the things this spirit has seen and lived through. It’s surprising how balanced it has stayed over the decades.