Deze set bestaat uit:

1. Armagnac Lous Mouracs / L’Encantada 1996 (52,7%, Journal des Kirsch 2023, Edition 1)

2. Cognac Jean-Luc Pasquet L.79 – Petite Champagne (52,2%, Journal des Kirsch 2023, Edition 2)

3. Cognac Vallein-Tercinier Lot 58 – Petite Champagne (51,6%, Journal des Kirsch 2023, Edition 3)

1. Armagnac Lous Mouracs / L’Encantada 1996 (52,7%, Journal des Kirsch 2023, Edition 1)

Tasting notes by Ruben Luyten WhiskyNotes.be 87/100

Nose: a rummy impression at first. Apples and latte come out first, with a firm woody side and just a light alcoholic sharpness. Hazelnuts and almonds. Bready notes and bell pepper. Then hints of nougat, mint and aniseed, with a light metallic overtone. Much leaner than I expected.

Mouth: again quite punchy with a roughness that I’m not often getting in armagnac. Almonds, pear, hints of herbal extracts. Mineral touches and walnuts. Woody notes and pepper too. Again, this could be mistaken for a rum in a blind tasting.

Finish: medium long, still some wood and herbs, with pepper.

I’m not the biggest armagnac connoisseur but this is quite unusual to me. A dry, slightly mineral and herbal profile instead of the rounder style I’m used to. Interesting and fresh, although it may lack some sexiness.

2. Cognac Jean-Luc Pasquet L.79 – Petite Champagne (52,2%, Journal des Kirsch 2023, Edition 2)

Tasting notes by Serge Valentin (WhiskyFun.com) 92/100

From Mr. Piton's stock and part of a brand new series by Kirsch Import. It's good fun that French bottlers such as Nine Zero would use Japanese samurais on their cognacs, whilst our German friends would rather display French musketeers. We are the world…

Colour: full gold.

Nose: you see, this Petite Champagne is a little grassier, and certainly a little less varnishy, more on classic orchard fruits, especially plums and peaches. Greengages seem obvious to me, nectarines as well, fresh moist prunes, spearmint, and a tiny and wonderful whiff from a little bouquet of freshly cut violets (but absolutely not in the style of Bowmore 1985!) With water: not much to say now, this is perfect. It has everything, and all is neatly arranged, in the right order.

Mouth (neat): impeccable concentration, many stewed fruits, jams, herbal teas and honeys, plus liquorice… but we'll remain seated while trying it with a little H2O. With water: it is an extremely cognacqy cognac. Once again, everything (fruits, herbs, spices, soft younger rancios, nuts, yada…) in the right order.

Finish: vine peaches and heather honey as the signature. Comments: in fact there isn't much to say, this is just perfect. Good, I'll still add that it reminds me of some old official Highland Parks, perhaps the dumpies 'round black label'. Or was it 'black round label?'. Must be that heather honey…
SGP:661 - 92 points.

Tasting notes by Ruben Luyten Whiskynotes.be 91/100

Nose: a big fruity core. Plums, apricots stewed in acacia honey, dark berries and nectarines. Plenty of orange peels. Hints of tobacco. Subtle pollen and a little mineral varnish. A dash of herbal syrup too, as well as grassy / minty touches which make it wider. Much more inviting than the armagnac.

Mouth: there’s a leafy, slightly tannic side (walnut skins, herbal liqueur) with some mineral elements, but this is largely compensated by lovely, juicy fruits. Pear tarte tatin, stewed peaches, hints of lychees and apricots on syrup. Hints of dessert wine. Then many tertiary qualities, light earthy notes, lamp oil, eucalyptus and hints of rancio.

Finish: long, back to honey and fruit tea, with a slightly darker fruitiness and some resinous notes.

Now we’re talking. This cognac mixes robust and mineral elements with beautiful (slightly exotic) jammy fruits. Actually the vineyards of this cognac are bordering Petite and Grande Champagne so it brings a composition of both crus. Seductive and really good. Score: 91/100

3. Cognac Vallein-Tercinier Lot 58 – Petite Champagne (51,6%, Journal des Kirsch 2023, Edition 3)

Tasting notes by Serge Valentin (WhiskyFun.com) 93/100

More mousquetaires ! Just don't tell the Gascons of the pays d'Armagnac that you've put D'Artagnan on a bottle of… cognac. Now I'm sure it can be resolved over a small glass or five of Ténarèze... or Petite Champagne indeed for that matter.

Colour: deep gold.

Nose: no surprise here, this goes down to the core of fresh old cognac, this time with stunning pears poached in Sauternes (not a 1960!) plus extraordinary morello cherries, almond liqueur and, hold on, kirschwasser? I swear to Vishnu that I am not making this up. With water: small mushrooms, a touch of paprika, fig wine, tiny bits of old wood, old bachelor's jam, lemongrass, peach syrup, and a bucket of Bellini (made with Bollinger). Oh yeah, that's champagne with fresh peach purée.

Mouth (neat): pine essence, black assam, sour cherries (once you've got them in your mind, you're dead), more almonds, sorb eau-de-vie (that's close)… With water: the old wood is adding some piney essences and old pu-her, but peaches and cherries keep it playful and even refreshing. Kind of.

Finish: long, with some mentholated liquorice by way of signature. 

Comments: this one never felt demijohnned (you know we're afraid of nothing, vocabulary-wise). Which means that it could well be… hold on, 2023 – 1958 = 65 years old. Just a kid!
SGP:661 - 93 points.