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- Suggested retail price: $259
- Thursday, June 18 (for as long as it lasts), we're pouring a one-ounce pour for $8
The most expensive Cognac in the world is the "Henri IV" Heritage by Dudognon. It's been produced since 1776. It's been aged in barrels for 100 years and a 100 cl bottle costs $1,982,300.00 - no case discount! Of course the bottle is dipped in gold and platinum and encrusted with 6,500 diamonds. We're not serving that, but I thought you would find it interesting.
We are going to pour the lovely 40-Year Heritage Cognac from Maison Dudognon. The Dudognon family has produced Cognac in the small town of Lignieres Sonneville in the heart of Grande Champagne. The soil is largely composed of Campanian chalk, which lend unique character to the Ugni Blanc grown there. Spirits from this premier cru are especially renowned for their tremendous length. Since the Second World War, Raymond Dudognon has raised the domaine's reputation to new levels with his close attention to detail and minimal intervention of his spirits.
The Dudognon's are staunch traditionalists who distill only the Ugni Blanc grown on their properties. Their two alambics distill roughly 200 barrels per year. Much of this tiny production is sold to Delamain, Hine and Remy Martin. As a result, what remains in the cellar of the maison is precious little.
The eau de vie they keep is made from what M. Dudognon considers to be his finest parcels. This is kept at the property and aged in their small, rustic chai. These cognacs originate from soils that are organically farmed. The decisions during distillation are done with the glass in hand rather than with scientific instruments. The wood for their barrels is air-dried for 5 years next to the chai. This is an exceptionally long time to wait. The barrels are extra aged before the Cognac is extra aged in them! Talk about patience.
While many Cognac are laden with permitted additives (sugar, boisé, caramel), the only additive used in Dudognon Cognacs is water: because of this, their color is fairly light, their sweetness comes from only naturally concentrated fruit, while their length, like the finest spirits from the Grand Champagne, is counted in minutes. I look forward to sharing a glass with you, beginning at 6:30 precisely.