Fanny Fougerat Petite Cigue

Fanny Fougerat Petite Cigue

Brandy: Cognac
From: Borderies / Fin Bois
House: Fanny Fougerat
Style: Single distillery
Colour: Pale gold
ABV: 40%

N: Sea salt, pears, lemon zest, miso, sulphur, hints of apples.

M: Light body, airy, loose, astringent.

T: Sour salty. White grapes, pears, woodsmoke, oolong tea, apples, miso, hints of sulphur.

F: Short. Pears, orange peel, lemon zest, sea salt, oolong tea.

Comments:

Fanny Fougerat is a new-ish house, run by the eponymous fourth-generation distiller who is the only woman currently making cognac. That seems... unfortunate, and there should be a more diverse group of people involved in making spirits; quality goes up along with diversity, in my experience.

Spirit from the Borderies or Fin Bois tend to go into the blends created by the larger houses, so something that is one or both is unusual. This VSOP expression is young, without the deep, rich fruit, leather and tobacco notes in older brandies. Instead there's white fruit, savoury miso, and something sulphurous, though not unpleasant. There's plenty of tannic savouriness in the finish as well.

Verdict:

I like this.