French Spirits - Luxury Spirits

ACCORDING TO ITS FIRST DEFINITION IN MERRIAM-WEBSTER DICTIONARY, THE WORD “LUXURY” IS DEFINED AS “A CONDITION OF ABUNDANCE OR GREAT EASE AND COMFORT.” AND WHILE WE OFTEN ASSOCIATE LUXURY WITH BEING EXPENSIVE, IT DOESN’T ALWAYS HAVE TO BE. ANOTHER DEFINITION DESCRIBES IT AS “AN INDULGENCE IN SOMETHING THAT PROVIDES PLEASURE OR SATISFACTION.”

Get to Know TOP OF THE LINE French Spirits

is a country known throughout France the centuries for its sometimesextravagant tastes and styles (thanks in part to all the Kings named Louis). So, it is natural to think of it as a source of luxury and refinement. This is exceptionally true in the world of high-end libations. France’s reputation for quality in this category is wellearned through generations of technical research and passionate refinement, not to mention a tremendously fertile growing environment for fruits and grains. While “luxury” sometimes is over-the-top extravagance and pricey extremes, it can also simply be an indulgence in something pleasurable or satisfying. In other words, if you take away the fancy package, what matters most should be what’s inside the bottle.

With that in mind, here are some wonderfully luxurious must-try spirits from the French spirit experts over at Heavenly Spirits that prove to be pleasurable without being over-the-top expensive.

Cognac: Cognac Jean Fillioux, known to be one of the finest producers of Grande Champagne Cognac, is renowned for many of its expressions, like La Pouyade, or Trés Vieux XO Extra, but one that you might not hear of as often is called the Cigar Club. Don’t let the name fool you. You won’t need to be puffing on a Cohiba cigar to enjoy the toasted tobacco aromas and thoroughly indulge in the pleasures of this awardwinning, 30-year-old Cognac. RSP is only $200. You can tell all the Kings to put that in their pipes and smoke it.

Armagnac: The oldest spirit in France has many fine examples, including the houses of Delord, Dartigalongue, and Artez, but another rare luxurious Armagnac worth a closer look is the vintage 1987 Hontambère Ténarèze single cask. Calvados: Distilled in a similar way as Cognac but made with apples and pears instead of grapes. One of the finest examples of this opulent nectar is a twentyyear-old Calvados from Claque-Pepin in Normandy.

French Whisky: Something the world is just starting to learn about, and if you are a whisky fan interested in peat, we would like to recommend one expression that promises a great deal of pleasure and satisfaction. It is the recently released Yeun Elez, a peated single malt from Armorik Distillery in Britany, France.

Pear Liquor: Noces Royales is one of the best examples of luxurious quality and taste on a modest budget. This deliciously luscious pear and Cognac liqueur, which has only recently been introduced to the United States market, is the perfect balance of fresh fruit taste, heat, and natural sweetness.

From left to right: Jean Fillioux Cigar Club Cognac, 1987 Hontambère Ténarèze Single Cask Cognac, Claque-Pepin 20-year-old Calvados, Armorik Distillery Yeun Elez, Noces Royales Cognac & Poire Williams Liqueur