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B-21 Top Recommendation
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"This is apex aged Cognac, just heavenly stuff that you could sit with for hours on end and contemplate." - Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer
Today's offer is a classic example of what makes fully mature Cognac one of the world's great sensory experiences. PM Spirits is one of our favorite artisan spirits houses, but founder Nicolas Palazzi's first love was Cognac, and his first ambition was to become an independent bottler by scouring the region for spectacular, small-batch discoveries. Fast-forward several years, and he's broadened his horizons considerably, but Nico's Cognac heart still beats true in this absolutely mind-blowing single-cask collectible.
This is the very last of Nico's stocks he purchased as he pursued his original plan for PM Spirits, and it's a flat-out treasure. A single cask of 1965 juice was blended with two demi-johns of 1959 and one demi-john of 1925 to make a singular rarity of unparalleled class. Made entirely in Grande Champagne, the two distillers cannot be disclosed due to paperwork issues with the French authorities (it's always paperwork), but the pedigree is top-tier all the way. Showcasing "one of the most hauntingly layered aromatic profiles I’ve come across," as Andrew describes it, a half century in barrel has endowed it with a "mesmerizing" palate defined by a "stunning, velvety texture." The aromatic and flavor complexity are off the charts, as the more time you spend with it, the more it reveals. Whether you're a Cognac fan specifically or a collector of the world's finest spirits, this one belongs on your shelf. |
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This is PM Spirits founder Nicolas Palazzi’s ode to his roots. Named for the Pelletans, father & son master coopers in Cognac who did as much as anyone to foster Nico’s love for the spirit, this is the last of his stock that he purchased way back when his original dream and purpose for PM was to be an independent Cognac bottler. A single cask of 1965 blended with two demi-johns of 1959 and one demi-john of 1925, all from undisclosed distillers in Grande Champagne, it’s simply a masterpiece. One of the most hauntingly layered aromatic profiles I’ve come across, it’s redolent of pure cherry, cooked red apples, pomegranate, golden raisins, and rhubarb. Underneath all that is an incredibly complex spice framework with Chinese Five Spice standing out along with fine, old wood furniture, worn leather, pure sandalwood, and a faint balsamic note. Hovering above it all are heady florals – lilac, orange blossom, and light violet accents. The palate is downright mesmerizing. Medium-full weight, but so gentle with perfectly integrated wood, it boasts a stunning, velvety texture that supports flavors of red hard candy, sassafras, anise, dark cherry liqueur, blackberry, blueberry, currant and a slightly medicinal, amaro-like note in the mid-palate. With time and air, the flavors veer toward elegance with cherry soda, strawberry pastry, and orange liqueur, all leading very long finish with a high-toned floral lift. This is apex aged Cognac, just heavenly stuff that you could sit with for hours on end and contemplate.
97 points, Andrew Kitz, B-21 Spirits Buyer (Oct 2025)
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