Courvoisier Limited Edition Cognac

Until recently, cask finishes were not part of the Cognac-maker's toolbox; that's slowly changing, and to delicious effect. According to the producer, this bottling is “VSOP quality” but doesn't meet the industry's strict laws to have VSOP put on the label. It's still worth seeking out and is a particularly fruit-forward expression with plenty of dried fig, date and plum on nose and palate, finishing long with hints of cocoa and spice. The initial blend of liquid is aged two to eight years, then finished in Sherry casks for at least four months. Batch 006. Kara Newman