Authentic cognacs with a remarkable origin. Like a truly great wine or a vintage champagne, these cognacs have come about through exceptional circumstances. They have been gently matured to enhance the characteristics of their terroir and underline their rarity.

This extremely rare and outstanding very old Cognac has been specially selected by and bottled for Passion for Whisky - The Netherlands

N° 73 Héritage

Lot N° 969

45 litres

Limited to only 64 bottles

Tasting notes Serge Valentin: 91/100 (WhiskyFun.com) 

As we said, only our preferred houses. Oh and 1973, that's the year of that utterly stunning FZ gig in Sweden while Jean-Luc Ponty was still on board. Check 'Dupree's Paradise 1973' on YouTube, but first, back to this wee Petite Champagne from the same year…

Colour: full deep gold.

Nose: it is not explosive but we know that's the strength. I would say high levels of alcohol may block brandies a little more than whiskies (at the same ABVs). Cake à l'orange, Jaffa cakes, raisins and dried figs, rather a lot of black nougat and cappuccino… But it really calls for water. With water: that worked. Old Meursault and crushed bananas, warm praline, warm raisin rolls, lemon balm, with honeysuckle and acacia flowers in the background… Luminously fresh.

Mouth (neat): no blockage on the palate, this is almost monstrous, with tons of marmalade and orange blossom water. Huge, massive arrival and a development to match, extremely potent and flavourful, on tons of orange-blossom honey. Spectacular. With water: it remains a little tightly focussed on citrus, especially anything oranges including orange blossom honey. That too is an asset, there's just nothing even remotely out of place in the way.

Finish: same.

Comments: sublimely simple, like a Miro, but please place your bottle under lock and key.

Tasting notes Ruben Luyten - WhiskyNotes: Score 90/100

This 73 cognac is exclusive to Passion for Whisky who recently also bottled a Pasquet Lot 71.

Nose: more robust and jammy, full of damsons, ripe quinces and mirabelles, with furniture wax and ginger biscuits in the background. Gourmand, as they say. Some thuja wood and hints of cedar, as well as some cardamom notes.

Mouth: an intense, minty profile, with wood polish, leather and glorious rancio. Still some plummy notes and raisins. Then orange peels and white pepper, as well as some tobacco leaves that leave a drying fingerprint. Earthy notes and sandalwood as it fades.

Finish: very long, very minty, with resinous notes, oranges and honeydew. Drying oak in the very end.

This shows more grittiness and power, underscored by the higher ABV. It’s a drier profile with more wood influence – both are quite excellent.