Martini Groove

Dr. Dre is jumping on the bandwagon and launching his own line of spirits.  The first to launch will be his Aftermath Cognac which is being made by Abecassis Cognac, a large producer in the region.  Next up will be a flavored and unflavored sparkling vodka.  Both should launch in the next 60 days.  Look here for pics and notes.

If you're in the U.S., you may want to wait for the exchange rate to get a bit better before buying this bottle of Cognac.  This bottle of Henri IV Dudognon Heritage has been aged for 100 years but sells for 1,000,000 Pounds Sterling.  In today's exchange rate that's US$1,998,700.84.  I hope you're an oil investor. The bottle itself is dipped in 24 K Yellow Gold & Sterling Platinum and decorated with 6,500 certified brilliant cut diamonds. With an approximate weight of 8 Kilograms, it is filled with 100 cl. of Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne, aged in barrels for more than 100 years to produce an alcohol content of 41%. If the bottle is too rich for your blood, they've also come out with versions that are pared back a bit. There's one without diamonds that's selling for US$269,776.55 and one that's selling for US$169,888.36. For the masses, there's 100 bottles out there selling for US$17,988.30, but they laugh at you as you walk out of...

I've become more and more of a fan of Cognac of late and have had an encounter or two with JC (Jacques Cardin) VSOP Cognac though I haven't had a chance to try it. They're rolling out their product nationwide now and not only do they have their standard Cognac, but they are also launching two flavored Cognacs, Jasmine and Apple. Created in Cognac, France, JC is made with a selection of Ugni-Blanc grapes chosen with special attention paid to the soil of the vineyards. A combination of these grapes adds complexity to JC. As JC is a VSOP (Very Special Old Pale), it is created with a blend of cognacs, each aged at least four years. This special blend, developed by the cellar master, is then aged in small French oak casks. It spends its life in contact with wood, developing aromas of wood tannins. The 750ml sells for US$34.99 and you should see them on most store shelves by August.

Liquor Snob has a review of the Cognac Davidoff Classic. That's right, everyone's big time cigar maker is doing stuff with grapes. If I read the review without knowing it was a Cognac, I would have guessed Brandy. Maybe they're trying to go a little mainstream with their flavors. Check it out over at Liquor Snob .

Duke Ellington brings back thoughts of big band parties, classic supper clubs, and a night out on the town. It's a natural fit for someone to finally make up a drink that bears his name and even more appropriate that it's a cognac. The cognac is bottled in a heavy crystal decanter with a gold-plated crown and "The Duke" signature in gold on the glass. This 20 year old XO blend comes straight at us from the Cognac region and costs $150 for the 750ml bottle. I have yet to taste it but the price seems right for an XO of that age from the producer, Meukow. I look forward to trying it. The beverage will be sold at every jazz club where the Ellington orchestra makes an appearance. It also will be available at The Blue Note international chain of jazz clubs and at B.B. King's clubs, which are all owned by the same parent company. Duke Ellington Cognac - US$150 - [bottlewatch.com]