Fluid & Forward: Inside the World of D’USSÉ Cognac
D’USSÉ Cognac & SHARP
Out with the old and in with the bold; despite being carefully crafted in one of France’s most historic Cognac houses, D’USSÉ Cognac is uninhibited by stuffy traditions. Tantalizing the taste buds of an energetic new generation of luxury Cognac drinkers, D’USSÉ Cognac is infused with the spirited melodies of modern music, bringing a lively, contemporary approach to the elevated drinking experience.
For the sake of the uninitiated, let’s start at the very beginning. Cognac is, essentially, a brandy, with extra savoir faire. A refined style in a wider category of spirit (think Champagne vs sparkling wine), Cognac must be made in a specific region of France; unsurprisingly, a historic town called… Cognac. The utmost care and attention are applied to each stage of Cognac creation; it is made exclusively with the prestigious ugni blanc grape from vetted growers, fermented into wine, then twice distilled into “eau de vie” (translation: water of life) before undergoing a careful process of barrel aging in French oak that requires a minimum of two years of maturation. Despite being a relatively new kid on the block, D’USSÉ Cognac is the creation of visionary Maitre de Chai, Michael Casavecchia, one of the most revered authorities in the Cognac game. Now, one of the youngest female cellar masters in the luxury spirits game, Agathe Boinot, has taken the reins — Boinot is shattering the gender bias of the male-dominated spirits industry.
“D’USSÉ perfectly embodies the balance between tradition and modernity”, Boinot tells us. That tracks; while the luxury spirit is produced at the esteemed 200-year-old Chateau de Cognac, it has often been a well-swilled sauce at the music industry’s coolest parties. For example, unrestrained by tradition, and inspired by the bold and courageous, D’USSÉ Cognac proudly presented a lively evening of music discussion with Tyrone “T-rex” Edwards and Fat Joe, at Toronto’s Great Hall. D’USSÉ cocktails could also be seen clutched in the hands of guests at Toronto’s 25th Northern Touch anniversary party, with Def Jam Recordings.
Perhaps this shouldn’t come as a surprise; notably, it seems that Cognac has long been the go-to spirit of creatives throughout history. Did you know that the 19th Century French writer Victor Hugo once famously declared Cognac to be “the liquor of the Gods?” Word. Perhaps this is owing to the rich symphony of scent and flavour the spirit presents, and the mastery required to achieve the finished product — which is an artistic process in and of itself, and one that Casavecchia and Boinot know all too well.
“I discovered a deep passion for aged spirits, a fascination that has stayed with me”, confesses Boinot, who studied under the tutelage of Casavecchia for several years as she honed her craft. Now, thanks to the pair’s combined mastery, imbibers can enjoy refined notes of dried fig, caramel, honey, and woodland, with a palate of date, figs, wood spice, and a rounded, velvety sweetness in their sips of D’USSÉ VSOP, and dark chocolate, ripe fresh blackberry, dried apricot and walnut amid sips of D’USSÉ XO.
With party season on our doorstep, why not grab your posse and make D’USSÉ the soundtrack to your creative gatherings? Straight up or in a cocktail, D’USSÉ is a surefire way to raise the vibes and elevate the taste of your night. Oh, and by the way, Agathe told us she LOVES a D’USSÉ espresso martini. Do whatever you like with that information, but I know what we’ll be shaking up!
Learn more about D’USSÉ Cognac here.
ENJOY RESPONSIBLY. ©2024 D’USSÉ AND ITS TRADE DRESS ARE TRADEMARKS. IMPORTED BY D’USSÉ SPIRITS, BACARDÍ CANADA INC. CONGAC- 40% ALC. BY VOL.
