Pasquet "L'Esprit de Famille" Le Cognac de Noel

Le Cognac de Noël is the stunning final chapter in the L’Esprit de Famille series. A unique Petite Champagne eau-de-vie sourced from a single 450-liter cask of Cognac which had been patiently aging in the cellars of Noël and Marie-France Gay since 1994.

Although the French translation of Noël is Christmas, and so it seems almost fated that the spiced aromas of this Cognac are so accurately reminiscent of the festive season, this Cognac is in fact named to honor the charming couple of Noël and Marie-France.

The story of Noël and Marie-France

Noël is the second of five children, and as the first son, he was destined to inherit responsibility for his family’s vineyard, as his father had. However, in the mid-60s a tragic tractor accident meant that Noël had to prematurely step into his role and take charge of the vines and the cattle as a teenager up until the mid-80s.

The adversity that Noël faced forged a strong sense of character and he was also lucky enough to meet the love of his life, Marie-France, in 1976. Together, the couple took over ten hectares of Petite Champagne vines in Sainte-Lheurine and Lonzac in 1982 which they farmed until their retirement in 2008.

Marie-France and Noël distilled Cognac together using the same method from 1974 until 2008, using a wood and charcoal-burning 20 hectoliter potstill; and this spectacular eau-de-vie is no exception. As life partners, they cared for their family, vineyard, potstill, and cellar tirelessly and wholeheartedly. The couple’s love and attention is demonstrated in this exquisite eau-de-vie which the house of Pasquet selected in December 2019, brought down to its ideal alcoholic degree, and hand-bottled in August 2021.

Presentation of the bottle

Fitting with the rest of the L’esprit de Famille range, this eau-de-vie is presented in a classic cognacaise bottle featuring a vignette that appears to be handwritten. The red wax seal and stamp also gives an authentic, yet understated impression to the bottle.

How to enjoy

A single cask Cognac should be enjoyed in the classic manner, neat and at room temperature so as to appreciate all the unique nuances of the eau-de-vie. Due to the spiced aromas and flavors found in this particular Cognac, we also see it as the perfect accompaniment to the Christmas season.