Inspired by the decorative handle on his office window, Maurice Hennessy created the star symbol which he would use to classify his products. Thus was born Three Star Cognac. Hennessy Very Special is the descendant of Three Star, a fine assembly of over forty Eaux-de-vie from the four prime appellations of Cognac, aged up to eight years. Hennessy is the first choice for Cognac enthusiasts who prefer the classic brandy balloon, cradled in the palm of one's hand, swirling the spirit as it warms, slowly releasing it's treaure trove of aromas.

Situated in Bas-Armagnac, the Delord vineyards are planted to Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche vines. The distillery itself is to be found in the village of Lannepax, the ancestral home of the Delord family. The refinement of wine into spirit takes place from the beginning of November through to the end of December, the most essential and fascinating stage in the production of Armagnac. The ancient Sier Armagnac alambics which are at the heart of the distillation process produce less than thirty litres of eau-de-vie each hour.

Established 1893 in the superior appellation of Bas-Armagnac, the Delord vineyards grow Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche grapes. The distillery itself is in the village of Lannepax, the ancestral home of the Delord family. Distillation, the most essential and fascinating stage in the production of Armagnac, takes place at the beginning of November through to the end of December. Antique Sier Armagnac alambics, ancient stills which the DeLord family wouldn't part with for all the gold in the world, produce less than thirty litres of Eau-de-vie per hour.

It was Prosper Delord, a travelling distiller, who initially fell in love with the magnificent eau-de-vie of Armagnac. In 1893, he founded the Maison Delord which became the Armagnac Delord Brothers, when his two sons Gaston and Georges took over the alambic still and followed in their father's footsteps with the same passion for Armagnac. The ancient cellars contain treasured vintages and include more than 700 oak barrels which protect and age the Armagnac Eau-de-vie dating from the early twentieth century to the present day.

Produced exclusively from Grande Champagne, the first growth of Cognac, aged for many long years. An assemblage of old Grande Champagne Eaux de Vie, each Cognac is separately matured in well seasoned Limousin oak casks. Draped in bright, light amber robes with flashes of gold, named Pale because of its elegant clarity, and Dry because it retains only the natural sweetness of the distillate. The humid old cellars near the river infuse Delamain with intense perfumes and exceptional length of fragrance.

Brilliant, velvet gold hues. Remarkably delicate, a bouquet of elegance and distinction is characterised by the powerfulness and length of intensely floral aromas, backed by the distinctive vanilla of rancio. Its mellow roundness on the palate blossoms into a full bodied fruitiness with a slight, harmonious hint of liquorice. Floral notes with a lingering aftertaste of vanilla, a refined Cognac exhibiting mellowness and roundness, age and intense fruitiness.

One of the world's most revered Spirits, Courvoisier XO is a luxurious blend of the finest old Cognacs. Its evocative perfumes have evolved over the course of two decades, the perfect balance of intensity and elegance have been achieved through painstaking maturation under the warm Cognac sun, within the historic humid warehouses along Charente River. Double distilled from the four finest Crus of Cognac, Courvoisier is matured in the most precious oak casks, coopered from an ancient bequest of oak tress in the Limousin region of France.

The making of Courvoisier is focused throughout every stage of the process, at infusing the utmost elegance and palate richness. Only the finest wines of Cognac are considered for inclusion. Distillation on gross sedimentery lees is a complex and meticulous part of the technique but it imparts VSOP with a luxury and excellence that are the hallmark of Courvoisier. Crafted and assembled with an intricacy and attention to detail which are without peer in the art of fine Spirit making, its sublime jasmine, peach and toasted almond complexity are a signature of the timeless VSOP style.

An assemblage of the finest eaux de vie in all Cognac, the character of each is shaped by terroir and fruit, cask and term of age. The most highly aromatic grapes are essential to the excellence of Courvoisier, distillation in bequest of smaller 25 hectolitre Alembic pots achieves a Spirit of the greatest refinement. Maturation in the pick of French coopered oak casks mellows the Spirit and infuses rich cocoa complexity, without overpowering the exquisite fruity and floral aromatic virtue.

The Chabot family established their repute in the wines and spirits trade circa 1828. Based in the village of Labastide d'Armagnac, Chabot came to the attention of Cognac man Michel Camus, who was instrumental in making Chabot into Armagnac's biggest export. Armagnac is distilled in much lesser quantities and by much smaller producers than neighbouring Cognac, achieving a finer, more complex, oak influenced spirit.

Chabot distill their Eaux de Vie in a column still and mature their Armagnac in black oak. Over the years the spirit mellows, extracting colour and flavor from the cask. The spirit evaporates over time as the angels take their share, concentrating the fruit and developing complexity. The Chabot family traditionally employed geese as guardians of the premises where the oldest Armagnac Brandies are kept, reposing under the deep, dark ageing cellars. Better than dogs and almost carefree, they serve to prevent any attempt by strangers to penetrate the Chais.

Armagnac is made in the southern province of Gascony. There are three appellations, Bas Armagnac, Haut Armagnac and Tenareze. Armagnac is the finest of all the French distillates and is mentioned in records dating back to the 15th century. The Chabot family can trace the origins of their production to the village of Labastide D'Armagnac. Winemakers and suppliers of wine grapes, they established their own brand in 1828. Chabot remains family owned and operated, one of the most significant exporters of exceptionally fine Eaux de Vie in France.

An elixir of Eaux de Vie from the finest districts within Cognac, aged under the ancient estate cellars. To construct such a rich palate, with an infinite wealth of aromas and a flamboyant colouring, the Cellar Master calls on a selection of venerable Eaux-de-Vie from exceptional vineyards, with a strong presence of the signature Camus Borderies. A radiantly beautiful bottle, an engraved heavy metal stopper and a luxurious presentation case are designed to do justice to the seductive charm of XO Elegance.

The highest standard of Cognac, a super premium flagship effort by the noble House of Camus, an assembly of Eaux de vie, each over forty years of age, from distinguished vineyards described by the Camus Cognac Master as exceptional harvest, the extremely limited release of something really special. As each edition becomes scarce, a new Cuvée of rare Eaux de vie is assembled and released, ensuring something different, but outstanding, on each occasion.

The only single Cru of it's kind, made entirely of aged stocks from Jean Paul Camus own vineyards in the superlative Borderies district, itself known for producing the rarest and most aromatic Cognacs. Drawn exclusively from private stock, Cognacs from the Borderies are highly prized for their intense, floral bouquet, which is often likened to the smell of dried violets, and for their excellent ageing qualities. Borderies is matured to a venerable XO age, then captured in a decanter symbolizing the excellence and complexity of its fragrance.

A distinctively aromatic Cognac assembled from parcels grown to the finest growths within the province of Cognac, including components of the extravagant Borderies, which contributes floral, nut and fruit. Camus is the oldest remaining, great family owned Houses of Cognac, custodian of the most valuable, aged stocks, reposing under its ancient cellars. VSOP is a profound composition of more than sixty distillates representing the four superlative appellations of Cognac, exhibiting a harmony of fresh fruit characters and delicate oak.

Denis Charpentier comes from a long line of gourmandes, his father retained one of the finest wine cellars in all Paris. Taking an enthusiastically epicurean approach to the selection of Eaux de Vie from the superior appellation of Petite Champagne, Charpentier have availed Cadenhead's of a unique parcel of exceptional Cognac, indentured a breathtaking thirty years. Bottled at a très supérieure Cask Strength 52%, an exclusive edition from a single vintage year, it continues to unravel extraordinary complexity as it evolves in the glass.

Aussie XO? You bet, it's a bit of an industry secret that Australian winemakers have had a long and propitious association with crafting bespoke, reserve stocks of the finest Brandy. Assembled from components, thirty years and more of age, matured in extravagant Limousin oak casks, coopered within the forests of Cognac. Black Bottle are one of the nation's most enduring marques in fine spirit, Black Bottle XO represents an opportunity for the discerning connoisseur to luxuriate in the fruit of a century and a half in the art of fine Brandy making.