This is a special post for my friends at Raising the Bar Communications from San Francisco and H by HINE from Jarnac, France in the heart of Cognac, France. I had the wonderful opportunity to taste this exquisite cognac. It was splendid and is offered at a very affordable price for an aged cognac. It is a very mixable spirit in cocktails that I will discuss below. For those of you who are not familiar with cognac, cognac is a style of brandy that has to be produced in Cognac, France according to international law – much like tequila to Mexico. All cognacs are brandies, but not all brandies are cognac.
The Sidecar is a classic cocktail that has been around for centuries. It is the best-known cognac-based cocktail in the world. This basic, three-ingredient cocktail is bright and refreshing and traditionally made with brandy or cognac, orange liqueur, fresh lemon juice, and a sugared rim. The light and citrus nature of this cocktail requires careful consideration of spirit choice. To balance the cocktail, the quality, age and flavor profile of the cognac is very important. For cocktails, especially the Sidecar, not every cognac is created equal, according to experienced bartenders.
Adventurous and elegant, H by HINE VSOP is consistently recommended across the globe as bartenders’ preferred choice cognac for the Sidecar. Created with American and British bartenders, H by HINE is a special bottle within the House of HINE’s world renowned portfolio of cognacs. Crafted specifically for mixing in cocktails, this VSOP expression honors HINE’s signature elegant style known for its floral aromatics with notes of iris, fresh apricot, acacia, white pepper and hint of spice, expressive profile and depth of character, while offering a youthful vitality that plays well with others. A blend of 20 eau de vie aged an average of 5 years gives it a full spectrum of aromas and flavors.
HINE Cognacs are different because they start from the earth. The identity from the Cognac region’s two premier crus: Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. The Sommelier’s choice for a reason. A great cognac is comparable to a great wine, which starts in the soil and ‘terroir’. Double distillation with the lees concentrates the aromas of the wines and adds texture. Loved for their personality, light toasted & fine-grained wood barrels let HINE cognacs age beautifully, preserving their pure personality. Awarded the Royal Warrant in 1962, HINE continues to be the sole official cognac supplier to the British Monarchy.
Here’s what bartenders have to say:
“A Sidecar is very much a citrus-led cocktail, it has lemon and orange liqueur, so for such a cocktail you want to make sure you choose a cognac that is going to complement the citrusy notes and elevate that summery party feeling that all Sidecars should have. H by HINE focuses on the fresh, light and fruity side of cognac rather than being too “wood forward”. I like to use H by HINE because it is a fresh and vibrant VSOP that brings the most out of lemon and orange notes in a Sidecar.” ~ Guillaume Le Dorner, Owner, Luciole (Cognac, France)
“H by HINE has always been the best choice for cocktails because of its versatility. H by HINE is a great choice for a classic Sidecar because it works harmoniously with the orange liqueur and lemon juice without being hidden. H by HINE’s Fine Champagne profile of the white flower, candied orange fruits and slightly peppery notes suits this sour perfectly.” ~ Angèle Grinda, Bar Manager, Bar Américain (London, EN)
At Bar Américain, the theme of their cocktail menu is “The Golden Age of Hollywood” and pays homage to the Hollywood heydays. They wanted to create a cognac cocktail on the menu and needed to find a cognac that works perfectly in cocktails. H by HINE was their top choice in terms of taste and story. Its flavor profile was perfect for their twist on the Sidecar called the “Napoleon”, a reference to the silent movie of Abel Gance profiling Napoleon Bonaparte’s life.
Napoleon
- 1 ½ oz H by HINE VSOP Cognac Chamomile-Infused
- ½ oz Apérol
- ½ oz Napoléon Mandarine liqueur (Mandarin liqueur)
- ½ oz *Nectarine Oleo Saccharum
- 3-4 dashes Peychaud’s bitters
*Oleo Saccharum is a very simple mix of citrus (in this case, nectarine) peels and white sugar. Toss the two ingredients in a bowl, gently muddle, cover, and let sit for an hour or longer. The sugar draws the oils from the lemon peels, creating a rich, glossy citrus syrup in the bottom of the bowl.
Method – Stir in a mixing glass. Strain into a large Cognac glass with one ice ball.
Classic Sidecar
- 1 ½ oz H by HINE VSOP Cognac
- ¾ oz orange liqueur (Cointreau), for richer version (Grand Marnier)
- ¾ oz fresh lemon juice
- ½ oz simple syrup (optional, for less bitter version)
Method – Coat the rim of a coupe glass with sugar and set aside. You can bypass the sugared rim if you don’t want the sweetness. Add all ingredients into a shaker with ice and shake. Strain into the prepared coupe glass and serve.
Try H by HINE Cognac in other classic cocktails, like an Old-Fashioned, Manhattan, Sours, Sazerac, and Highball or just enjoy it neat or over an ice sphere or ball. It serves as a great after-dinner and celebratory spirit to share with friends.
If you would like to learn more about cognac, please let me know and I will do an educational piece on this classic spirit.
Other H by HINE products –
HINE Rare
Fruity, Suave, and delicate. Appellation Fine Champagne Contrôlée VSOP Blend of around 20 eau-de-vie from Grande & Petite Champagne Aromas of roasted nectarines, ripe apricots and succulent melon inspire the lingering first sip, soft as brioche. Suave yet delicate, Rare is a classic expression of the House of HINE and a benchmark for their entire collection of cognacs. It reinterprets the fruity flavors characteristic of the white wines produced from Charente vines, particularly from the Grande and Petite Champagne varieties.
HINE Cigar Reserve XO
Structured, intense, and rich. Appellation Cognac Contrôlée XO Blend of 20 eau-de-vie from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne & Fins Bois Created by Bernard Hine and Nicholas Freeman (Hunters & Frankau) in their quest to find the perfect match between the most expressive of cigars and Hine cognacs. An invitation to embark upon a Gauguin-like journey through precious wood and sweet cinnamon. Rich and opulent in character, exotic aromas signal a cascade of aromatic complexity. Discreetly enveloping the palate, it is the perfect companion for the first puffs of a powerful and fragrant tobacco.
Recent Accolades:
GOLD MEDAL | Global spirits awards 2023
DOUBLE GOLD MEDAL | World spirits competition 2022
GOLD MEDAL, 95 PTS | Bartender spirits award 2022.
Find them on Instagram @hinecognacs and Facebook at HINE Cognac and site and portfolio at links above.
Cheers,
Michael
