Through the Grapevine Lot 45 Bons Bois Mauxion Cognac
- Growth area
- Bons Bois
- Bottle size
- 700ml
- ABV
- 45.2%
- Category
- Limited editions
- LOT
- 45
- Distilled in
- 1945
Serge Valentin
Reviews written: 30 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 88
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
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Mauxion 'Lot N°45' (45.2%, La Maison du Whisky, Through the Grapevine, Bons Bois, 2023)
Imagine that this Bons Bois – Bons Bois being rare as single cask or small batch – was distilled just after the end of World War II. That was almost eighty years ago! Imagine also the joy that must have reigned in the countryside at that time... We also learn that this ancient beauty was aged in coarse-grained Limousin oak (which lies just a bit east of the Cognac region). And one cannot help but think of the great vintage of 1945, especially in Pauillac, which isn't that far from of Cognac. Colour: dark gold. Nose: we're touching on the sublime, with exotic flowers and fruits. Mango, jasmine, guava, lilac, linden, and then prairie honey and a very old sweet wine that has digested all its sugars, that's what we find in this marvel. Nothing more, nothing less. Mouth: mango, camphor, mint, Smyrna raisins and honey. Sublime. It must be said, handling the still is indeed far nobler and more valuable than firing a cannon. We will always prefer the distillers to the arms dealers, don't you agree. Finish: really long, on liquorice wood, gentian, beeswax, peppermint, bitter orange, rose jelly, then all his cinnamon that makes its presence known in the aftertaste. Comments: this little 1945 is of infinite beauty and freshness. Such freshness is very rarely found in whiskies of a similar age, but it is true that those are extremely rare.
Flavour
Tasting
Nose
What aromas do you get when you sniff the Cognac? Do you get hints of fruits or flowers - perhaps it's sweet? Is it intense or rather flat - and most importantly, is the nose coherent to taste and finish? The nose is the most important part when tasting Cognac.
22/25
What aromas do you get when you sniff the Cognac? Do you get hints of fruits or flowers - perhaps it's sweet? Is it intense or rather flat - and most importantly, is the nose coherent to taste and finish? The nose is the most important part when tasting Cognac.
Mouth
A small sip: Allow your taste buds in the various areas of your mouth to distinguish the different flavours. This part of cognac tasting is described as ‘the palate’. Don’t just swallow it down; allow the liquid to touch all the regions of the mouth. Doing this is necessary as the taste buds pick up contrasting flavours in the different areas of the mouth; on the tip of your tongue to the sides, for example. Take a tiny sip to prep your palate for the sensory experience to come. Take a second larger sip, and gently roll the cognac around, etting it come into contact with every corner of your mouth. Focus on the perceived textural sensations. Are the sensations round and rich or fresh and elegant? Is the overall mouthfeel intense, balanced, disjointed, or lacking presence? In short, how does the cognac feel in your mouth?
19/20
A small sip: Allow your taste buds in the various areas of your mouth to distinguish the different flavours. This part of cognac tasting is described as ‘the palate’. Don’t just swallow it down; allow the liquid to touch all the regions of the mouth. Doing this is necessary as the taste buds pick up contrasting flavours in the different areas of the mouth; on the tip of your tongue to the sides, for example. Take a tiny sip to prep your palate for the sensory experience to come. Take a second larger sip, and gently roll the cognac around, etting it come into contact with every corner of your mouth. Focus on the perceived textural sensations. Are the sensations round and rich or fresh and elegant? Is the overall mouthfeel intense, balanced, disjointed, or lacking presence? In short, how does the cognac feel in your mouth?
Taste
Quite simply, what do you taste as you gently roll the cognac around in your mouth? Pay close attention to any flavors of fruits, flowers, oak, and spices - or a complex combination of those elements. Are the flavors cohesive with the Nose and the Mouth, giving a sense of balance and complexity?
23/25
Quite simply, what do you taste as you gently roll the cognac around in your mouth? Pay close attention to any flavors of fruits, flowers, oak, and spices - or a complex combination of those elements. Are the flavors cohesive with the Nose and the Mouth, giving a sense of balance and complexity?
Finish
The ‘finish’ is the experience you get after you’ve swallowed the cognac. What flavours can you detect? Is it a flat or rough finish and rather sharp, or is it a slight 'punch' you like? How long does the finish last? Also think about overall balance: How does the finish compare to nose and taste?
19/20
The ‘finish’ is the experience you get after you’ve swallowed the cognac. What flavours can you detect? Is it a flat or rough finish and rather sharp, or is it a slight 'punch' you like? How long does the finish last? Also think about overall balance: How does the finish compare to nose and taste?
Overall Impression
Consider the Nose, Mouth, Taste, and Finish simultaneously - the cognac as a whole. Is there cohesion between the four categories, or does the cognac shine in some areas and appear dull in others? Quite simply, is the memory from the tasting experience one that will last your lifetime; is the memory good but nothing extraordinary; or is the cognac’s impact entirely forgettable?
9/10
Consider the Nose, Mouth, Taste, and Finish simultaneously - the cognac as a whole. Is there cohesion between the four categories, or does the cognac shine in some areas and appear dull in others? Quite simply, is the memory from the tasting experience one that will last your lifetime; is the memory good but nothing extraordinary; or is the cognac’s impact entirely forgettable?
Total: 92/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative