Very recently, the famous Cognac brand Rémy Martin has launched their VSOP Mature Cask Finish, replacing their iconic VSOP. That had been around from 1927. It has been especially created for the European market.
The bottle:
The bottle been given a restyling very recently: the matte-coating is removed, allowing us to see the beautiful amber contents of the bottle. The logo that is placed between the neck and the label has been upgrade to lack-look image of their Centaur-logo. The colouring of the label went from mainly red to stylish silver, just like the neck that was black on their previous VSOP. The label also shows the major change in the Cognac itself: Mature Cask Finish, something that awakens our curiosity.
90/100
The nose: Elegant notes of spicy wood come through when one places the glass under ones nose, together with pleasant sweet floral and vanilla notes.
91/100
The contents: The final ageing of this Cognac has been done in smaller casks, that are over 20 years old. The result is more exchange with the wood, giving it a somewhat peppery and pleasant tingle at first. The softness of the cognac shines through, bringing very nice tastes of dried fruit and a little vanilla. The aftertaste is long and rich, making it perfect to enjoy for a long time, small sips at a time.
91/100
The mixability: I must say that this is one very versatile product: I really enjoyed it neat, both with and without ice, in a classic cocktail like the sidecar and in a simple mix, with Ginger Ale and squeeze of lime.
Rémy Martin is amongst the oldest of Cognac houses in the world. They produce their eaux-de-vie exclusively from grapes from the Fine and Grande Champagne-region, earning it the Fine Champagne Appellation. The qualification VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale, indicating a minimum ageing of 4 years.