Cognac Paris 1918 - Elixir Grande Champagne - b. 2010s to today - 70cl

Grande Champagne 1918 from maison Guerbés cellar - Paris is the trademark. Distilled in 1918, bottled 2018. Here's your chance to buy the cognac you wouldn't normally find on the market. 40% by evaporation, no water. At first I thought a cognac called Paris was a joke. But it isn't. In fact, it's an old acquaintance and, above all, a cognac of the kind that never normally appears on the open market: Many years ago, we had Cognac Guerbé in our range - a great Grande Champagne Cognac, of which there was an XO and an Extra. The prices were relatively moderate, and above all, it was an absolutely classic, round winemaker's cognac without added colour or sugar, but with great class. A typical quality product from a small producer with great aspirations. About the 50-year-old Vieille Réserve I wrote at the time: "45% alcohol and the holy grail of the cognac connoisseur - here you can really find it: Rancio! In addition, the aroma of wild mushrooms and truffles, earthy, unbelievably rich nuances, everything that a really really old cognac should have - here you can get it. Without ifs and buts: this is one of the best old cognacs we know. The price is not exactly low, but if you compare it to a Rémy Martin Louis XIII or a Hennessy Richard, this is a very good value cognac! Delivered in a mouth-blown bottle in a wooden box. One should not use the word "perfect" lightly, but Guerbé's "Vieille Grande Champagne" is a brandy for which we can think of nothing else. How could you improve on something like that? " But it is precisely these cognacs that often have a hard time if there is no good distribution behind them. That was the case here: a few years ago, the boss died and the Guerbé company was sold to China - probably out of financial necessity. The company and the name. . . but not the cognac! It was like Ferrand: bankrupt, name sold, and on it goes. But Ferrand was too bold and wanted to continue selling as Ferrand. Guerbé's heirs did better and simply used a trademark called "Paris" to sell the patriarch's old stocks. You just can't exist without the name and without distribution. Above all, it makes no sense to raid the cellar. The best and oldest reserves cannot be quickly turned into money. But that's exactly what someone tried to do. That's fine with me. It's not often that you can get hold of the finest cognacs from such a great producer. A vintage 1918 with an estimated 70 years of barrel ageing (at 40% alc. that would be fitting) at this price in this quality is unique, and no winemaker in his right mind would sell something like this.