We bought a bunch of very nice cognacs years ago from the owner of a restaurant we used to frequent. We got them at bargain basement prices. There are a couple of bottles still left and we decided we better drink them. Part of the downsizing project....

This is the last bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu that we have. Bought it in the 80s. Opened it a few days ago and it's still as heavenly as we remembered it.



We also have one bottle left of this pre-WWI cognac. It's totally amazing.




edit: Holy carp. I just looked up that second one. I think we paid $80 for the bottles we bought from Gunther....

https://www.bonhams.com/auctions/21015/lot/340/

quote:

"At the outbreak of World War I, the mobilized French growers walled up their cellars to preserve their treasure from German invasion. But, unfortunately many never returned. Privilege 'Reserve du Prince' originates in an exhumated cave. The inheritor insisted upon remaining anonymous for that was laid down in an undetermined time by his grandfather who disappeared in Verdun's battle in 1917. This was confirmed to us by the most respected and licensed appraisers in Cognac. After a long tasting, they all agreed that Privilege 'reserve du Prince had remained unviolated since it was stored in casks long before World War I."

Cognac, you say? How about a little Steak au Poivre?

It’s my favorite entree at my new favorite restaurant up the street

Well, the Martel retails for around $650 now ...


At the Whiskey Exchange

I had no idea.

And that was one of the cheaper ones...I think we paid maybe $30 for it.

I didn't know you were a Cognac fan. I love the stuff. Once bought a 1950's Martell bottle that was spectacular. I think I paid $40 for it.

Yup. Armangac, too. It's a bit rougher around the edges than its cousin, but it has it's charm. Kind of like me.

Among armagnacs, my favorite was Laressingle XO.

The restaurant owner was a bit crazy. If he didn't like you, you may as well not bother to set foot in his restaurant. If he did, well, you got top notch treatment. Everyone loves Mr wtg, so he got along gangbusters with Gunther. Gunther once said if the Russians were going to nuke the US, that he would invite Mr wtg over and they would drink through the collection he had stored in his basement.

Other faves of ours were Hardy Noces D'Or, and Delamain Vesper and Tres Venerables. There was another one, and I can't remember the producer's name. We bought it at Sam's Wines down in the city, and it was labeled "To my friends at The Sardine Factory". I later saw the same cognac with a different customized label. It was another great find and a good value. Wish I could remember who made it.

They weren't cheap booze back then, but the prices weren't in the stratosphere either. We never spent a ton of money on alcohol, but even we could afford some of these nice spirits. Not anymore.

Got any favorites to recommend?

I had a bottle of the Laressingle and it was just OK. Might not have been the XO.

Those cognacs sound amazing! Lucky you!

I used to love Armagnac. Then one day I just sort of lost the taste for it.

Lately I’ve been a single malt fan, and now I seem to be losing my enthusiasm for that too.

Late andropause?

Hope my interest in wine doesn’t disappear.

Kind of the same here, RP. These bottles are left over from the 80s/90s when we were drinking the stuff more regularly. I drank German white wines for a while, too, but haven't had a glass in years. Went through a bourbon phase but that's over, too.