Hine Rare VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac

Product Description

Hine Rare VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac: A 25-Eaux-de-Vie Blend from Jarnac

Hine Rare VSOP is a Fine Champagne cognac, a blend of eaux-de-vie from only the two most prestigious crus, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, with more than half reportedly from Grande Champagne. Created in 1989 by Bernard Hine, it blends more than 25 eaux-de-vie, all over six years old, per Difford’s Guide, which makes it older than the four-year minimum for a VSOP. The house of Hine has been in Jarnac, on the banks of the Charente, since 1763, and the Hine style is known for its finesse and delicate fruit.

The eaux-de-vie are distilled with their fine lees to keep richness and structure, then aged in French oak from northern France, which Hine’s cellar master prefers for its finer grain and lighter toast. The result is a Fine Champagne VSOP with floral and stone-fruit character, creamy sweetness, baking spice, and polished oak, bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in Hine’s distinctive faceted bottle, a replica of a crystal decanter given to Robert Hine as a wedding present in 1938. Sip it neat or on the rocks, or use it where a cognac cocktail calls for depth, in a Sidecar, a Sazerac, or a cognac Old Fashioned.

What’s in the Bottle

• Fine Champagne VSOP cognac: Grande and Petite Champagne eaux-de-vie
• A blend of more than 25 eaux-de-vie, all over six years old (per Difford’s Guide)
• Distilled on fine lees; aged in northern French oak
• 40% ABV (80 proof); Thomas Hine & Co., Jarnac, France

Tasting Notes

From Hine’s own notes and retail listings.

Appearance: Deep amber.

Nose: Roasted nectarines, ripe apricots, and succulent melon, with orange, oak, and vanilla.

Palate: Dry, full-bodied, fruity and oaky, with vanilla, nuts, and a creamy texture.

Finish: Ginger, chocolate, orange, and oak fade slowly into dried fruits.

Food Pairings

The apricot, honey, and oak pair well with aged Comté or Gruyère, foie gras, and roast duck. It also goes with dark chocolate, apricot tarts, and candied nuts.

Serving Suggestions

Sip it neat in a snifter or tulip glass, or on the rocks. It’s also a good base for a Sidecar, a Sazerac, or a cognac Old Fashioned, where the honey and vanilla mean less sweetener.

Frequently Asked Questions

What proof is it? 80 proof (40% ABV).

What’s “Fine Champagne”? A blend of eaux-de-vie from Grande and Petite Champagne only.

What’s in the blend? More than 25 eaux-de-vie, all over six years old.

Where is it made? Thomas Hine & Co. in Jarnac, France.

Why the faceted bottle? It replicates a crystal decanter given to Robert Hine in 1938.

Is it good in cocktails? Yes, and it sips neat.

Explore More

Browse our Cognac collection, or try the H by Hine VSOP.

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