Gourry de Chadeville Overproof Cognac

The sweetest, little Cognac that packs quite a punch.

PM Spirits markets itself as a “Provider of Geeky Spirits.” Founder Nicolas Palazzi was raised amongst his family’s vineyards if Bordeaux, France, and learned the ins and outs of artisanal Cognac under the tutelage of a man known only as “Mr. X.” After his successful start in Cognac, Nicolas has turned his attention to the “geeky” production of a wide range of strictly limited Rums, Brandies, Whiskies, Armagnacs, Calvados, Liqueurs, Eau de Vie, and a bunch specialty bitters and Vermouths.

Founded in 1619, Gourry de Chadeville is the oldest Cognac House in the region — located in Segonzac, the capital of the Grande Champagne appellation. Bottled at cask strength, Gourry de Chadeville Overproof is produced exclusively for PM Spirits from 100% Ugni Blanc grapes. The wine is double distilled on the lees in a very small — 25 hectoliter — copper pot-still. It ages for a total of three years — thirty months in seasoned Limousin oak and six months in foudre. Last we checked, only 330 bottles made it into the United States last year. How Uncle Flaviar got his hands on it nobody knows. But if you are a Cognac fan, this highly-rated gem needs to be in your liquor cabinet.

SmartAss Corner
The large wooden marrying vats in the Cognac region used for blending and final aging are called “foudre.” “Foudre” translates most of the time as “lightning,” but it is also used to indicated “chance” and “”discharge,” which is how the term likely came to Cognac production.