In the late 1890’s, a young Lieutenant named Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen from Norway fell in love with a beautiful Frenchwoman. In true love fashion, he left the army and moved to Cognac to marry her, and in the process he fell in love with the region itself. At the same time, two brothers named Thomas and Peter Anton Rustad became the owners of the Dupuy cognac house, which had been in existence since the mid 1800’s, and chose Bache-Gabrielsen as their business partner. And so begins the story of the Bache-Gabrielsen 3 Kors and the Natur & Eleganse VSOP cognacs.

Sad but true, Scandinavia has never been known for its cognacs. However, the passion that these three Norwegian men have poured into this traditional French brandy is nothing short of incredible. Cognac, like many other spirits worldwide, has a few requirements when it comes to production. These are used in order to regulate the area in which it’s made, the grapes used, and time it spends aging. There are four main areas, or “crus”, where the cognac can carry the name of that particular area on the label and therefore define itself. The most prestigious is Grande Champagne, which produces a long, powerful cognac with floral notes. Then there’s Petite Champagne, which is a little shorter in length but still shares similar characteristics to its superior. Fine Champagne is cognac that contains a blend of Grande and Petite Champagne spirits. Borderies comes in third, and while it’s the smallest cru, the cognacs produced here are distinctively nutty and floral. Last but not least, Fins Bois covers the largest ground of cognac, but is mainly used for blending. The grapes used in cru cognac must be at least 90% Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche and Colombard, which are grapes that, when combined, make a very dry, thin, acidic wine — but when distilled and aged in barrel make for some delicious brandy.

The 3 Kors Fine Cognac from Bache-Gabrielsen has an interesting story of its own. A blend of 25% Grande and Petite Champagne and 75% Fins Bois, this cognac has a beautiful amber shade and a round, soft, fruity palate. It became quite popular in Norway, due to its owners’ heritage. Years back, when the prohibition hit Norway, several Norwegian politicians gathered and decided to allow the delicious cognac to be sold in pharmacies due to the 3 crosses on the label, which is also the symbol for a pharmacy – hence the name “3 Kors”. For something a bit different, The Natur & Eleganse VSOP is the most recent addition to the Bache-Gabrielsen line of cognacs. Made from a blend of Fins Bois and Borderies cognac, it is aged for just over 5 years in oak casks. The name refers to the fact that nothing else is added to the product — no flavoring or color from caramel, which is a practice that is accepted and common with cognac. This new spirit is round, fruity and rich — what one would expect from a VSOP, but without all the extras — an elegant expression that lingers on your palate.

Bache-Gabrielson 3 Kors Fine Cognac
$26

Bache-Gabrielson “Natur & Eleganse” VSOP Cognac
$35

For more information please call 212-725-6516 or email info@vinosite.com.