D’USSE V.S.O.P.
D’USSE cognacs are made at the Château du Cognac, a 16th century castle on the banks of the Charente River in Cognac France. The Chateau and D’USSE are owned by Bacardi. Château du Cognac also produces Baron Otard, a cognac not available in the United States. Château du Cognac created D’USSÉ to promote and sell in the United States.
From the humid cellars of the Château du Cognac – D’USSE V.S.O.P.
Due to its vicinity to the Charente River, one of Château du Cognac cellars has extremely high humidity, often reaching 90%. According to D’USSÉ, humid cellars tend to “produce floral notes and add smoothness and roundness”. D’USSÉ also has a dry cellar in the château that they claim brings out woody and spicy flavors in their eaux-de-vie.
The Château du Cognac cellar master Michel Casavecchia blends aged eaux-de-vie from both of their humid and dry cellars to create unique cognacs for D’USSÉ and Baron Otard.
The Review
We tasted D’USSE V.S.O.P. neat. Here is our review.
Price
Of the V.S.O.P.s produced by the big four, Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin and Courvoisier, D’USSE V.S.O.P is priced closest to the highest end of the scale – Hennessy’s Privilège V.S.O.P.
Alcohol: 40% (80 proof)
Age: at least 4 and a half years.
The Bottle/Label
D’USSE V.S.O.P comes in a wide squat bell shaped bottle with the double cross of Lorraine embossed on the front (see below)
The Color
Medium amber, shiny copper.
The Nose (Nez)
Fresh cut wood, caramel, mixed floral and apricot.
Mouth (En Bouche)
Dried apricot, almonds, light cinnamon with a touch of honey and butterscotch.
Finish
Overall
D’USSÉ V.S.O.P is less bold than other VSOP’s like Hennessy’s Privilège or Martell’s Medallion. D’USSÉ V.S.O.P, however, is not a lightweight starter cognac. It does have the complexity one might expect from a V.S.O.P. and makes for excellent sipping with a complex nose and palate. Mr. Casavecchia suggests D’USSÉ V.S.O.P is also very suitable as a mixer. Click here to see D’USSÉ recommended cocktails made with their VSOP cognac including their versions of the Side Car and Vieux Carré.
BARON OTARD
CHÂTEAU DE COGNAC
127 BOULEVARD DENFERT ROCHEREAU
16100 COGNAC FRANCE
TEL: +33 (0)5.45.36.88.86
FAX: +33 (0)5.45.36.88.87
E-mail: infovisite@baronotard.com
For more information: http://www.baronotard.com/global/en/home.aspx
