Fortnum & Mason launches Cognac Hors d’Age with Frapin

Fortnum & Mason has teamed up with the Frapin single family estate to launch its own Cognac Hors d’Age.

The new release was selected by Fortnum’s from the cellars of the Frapin family, which can trace its history of vine growing and distillation back to the late 13th century. The family owns 240 hectares of vineyards in Grande Champagne and was recently shortlisted in this year’s DB Awards for its contribution to wine and spirits tourism.

Officially classified in the XO (‘Extra Old’) age denomination, ‘Hors d’Age’ means “beyond age”, and describes a Cognac with an average age of 30 years or above.

The serving suggestion is to enjoy it neat in a rock or stemmed glass and to pair it with petit fours, rich chocolate desserts, or even after-dinner coffee. On the palate it offers baked apple and orchard fruits, smoky spices, vanilla, caramel, and hints of chocolate.

The London department store’s wine & spirits buyer Oscar Dodd said: “Cognacs of this age and quality are extremely rare by their nature, so we are delighted to have our own exclusively selected Cognac Hors d’Age.”

“At Fortnum’s we love to work with independent producers and this partnership with Frapin has produced an exceptional cognac, which offers our customers incredible value and quality at the price point of many big brand XO’s. We look forward to cognac aficionados trying for themselves,” he concluded.

The 70cl bottle, at 40% ABV, retails for £135 online and in-store.

Last year, Cognac Frapin recruited Utah Jazz player Rudy Gobert as its brand ambassador for North America.