McCormack’s Irish Whiskey was brought to my attention by a random tweet featuring a photo of a French supermarket spirits shelf.
The discussion mainly revolved around the varying prices brought about by the taxes charged in the respective countries – but what interested me was the fact that sitting beside a well known staple – Bushmills – is a brand unheard of in Ireland – McCormack’s.
A bit of digging reveals it to be a West Cork Distillers brand. For it to be listed in LeClerc stores suggests it’s quite a big seller. A European Supermarket Magazine article from January 2024 has E.Leclerc as the largest retail chain in France – view article here.
One of the Irish Whiskeys uncovered in my sojourn to ProWein in Germany was Kerrighan’s.
I had a very quick sample as the show was coming to a close & found it an easy going blended Irish Whiskey.
On searching for further details it appears to be a Great Northern Distillery offering for a French distribution company by the name of Les Producteurs Réunis.
It’s certainly flying the Green for Irish Whiskey in France!
Their website also showcases many other brands spanning various spirits categories.
Pity I didn’t have time to explore more of them at the show!
We move to France for this SuperU release by the name of Green Gabbler.
The whiskey is presented in a green bottle with an embossed motif and suitably Irish images & script on the label.
For a long time Cooley Distillery supplied a lot of these supermarket-own-label bottlings but when Beam took over they promptly shut off the supply taps in 2012.
This gave space initially for West Cork Distillers to supply the third-party market followed later by the large operation at Great Northern Distillery.
A lot of these offerings are of very good value & exceedingly drinkable.
I didn’t manage to get hold of Green Gabbler myself – but friends in France were very satisfied with the whiskey.
There’s probably a brandy peak around the Festive Season – certainly was in my house!
The holiday purchased Torres 10 Double Barrel expired before nightfall so a bottle of Cognac was opened by way of replacement.
Chevalier Cognac VS – Aldi’s own brand – happened to be in the spirits cupboard & interestingly posed a couple of intriguing questions.
Could the discount supermarket deliver the goods?
How does French Cognac compare to Spanish Solera Brandy?
Chevalier is presented in a classic elongate bottle with a central embellishment that conveys an air of traditionality about it – commensurate with the established Cognac Appellation Rules which gives the category it’s kudos.
As ever with these supermarket releases there’s speculation on the distillate’s original source. Given that Cognac is a blend made up from numerous different sources – all complying with Cognac rules – good luck with pointless pondering. The House that made the blend is of far more significance.
Jarnac is clearly labelled on the bottle – which narrows down the field a little.
A quick internet search reveals at least half-a-dozen possibilities – Braastad, Hine, Delamain, Louis Royer, Louis Saveur & Courvosier. Some I’ve heard of – others not.
Further digging comes up with a Russian website – WineStyle – listing Cognacs from Louis Saveur showing a Grenadier VS displaying a resemblance to Chevalier.
Draw your own conclusions – I preferred to pour a glass.
Chevalier is classic golden brown in colour – a lighter shade than Torres 10.
An expressive aroma of warm nuttiness greets me.
Soft smooth palate slowly develops that rich nutty caramel appeal before being augmented by a caress of woody spice on the rear.
Not a bad little number from Aldi & clearly answers the first question in the positive. Chevalier certainly showcases all the attributes I associate with Cognac.
As to the comparison with Spanish Solera Brandy we are comparing a 2 year old Cognac with a 10 year old Brandy & it’s possibly weighted towards the older distillate.
Torres 10 certainly displays a more characterful oaky tannic appeal to my palate & would be my preferred choice – it’s just a little harder to acquire & a bit pricier.
On the Cognac front however – Chevalier certainly delivers the goods.
VSOP in the Cognac world usually suggests at least 4 years aged in oak barrels.
In the less regulated world of Brandy these rules don’t apply & the use of VSOP with an age statement of 3 Years Old underneath isn’t actually contradictory. The 3 yo might hold legal status but VSOP doesn’t.
The back label meanwhile states Bottled In France – possibly leaving the door open for it being distilled elsewhere?
At less than a tenner for a 350ml bottle – and plastic at that too – I hardly think it matters to those who purchase this product.
As ever it’s how it tastes that will gain repeat purchase – so a glass was poured.
Mellow nose with soft sweet caramel & slight hints of woodiness.
Very easy on the palate – almost to the point of laidback!
Does offer a faint woody prickle on the rear.
Overall an otherwise inoffensive easy drinking experience that lacks any exciting characteristics other that the Smooth, Mellow Flavour promised on the front label.
This is the latest rhum from the million case selling Negrita Brand.
Now owned by La Martiniquaise, Negrita is an extremely popular brand throughout Europe – where I picked it up in a Mercadona Supermarket for just shy of €9.
The imagery used is open to debate these days – see article linked below.
Aged in ex-bourbon casks this Añejo is imbued with a softly sweet funkiness on the nose.
Very easy on the palate.
The soft funk morphs into a lip-smacking dry prickliness on the finish.
Mild & easy drinking with a little frisson of excitement.
Bon!
Spirits Business article on Million Case Sales for Negrita Rhum here.
Discussion on the Negrita image in The Offing Mag here.
As far as I know Longueville House are the only producers of 100% Irish Apple Brandy.
They use their own cider as the base for this flame produced distillate.
I’ve twinned it with a more established French Cognac maker – Cognac Park – with their Cigar Blend offering.
Longueville House Irish Apple Brandy, 40%
The apples for this brandy are all grown on the Longueville House Estate in Co Cork making this a Single Estate Brandy!
A straw like brown hue from the 4 to 6 years ageing in French Oak casks.
Definitely getting a rich dry apple aroma. Very inviting. Quite a smooth, light yet very expressive palate. There’s a soft tannic prickle on the finish which adds to the drinking experience.
Fresh, fruity & fantastically engaging!
Cognac Park Cigar Blend Cognac, 40%
A rich dark golden brown colour.
Heavy notes of succulent caramel, dark vanilla & juicy plums. Quite an easy going palate slowly develops a soft prickle & warm toastiness on the rear. Bit of depth to the long finish.
Nice!
Thoughts
Quite a contrast in styles.
The Irish Apple Brandy is light & fruity while Cognac Park is deeper & darker.
I gotta hand it to Longueville House though for a more captivating & unique variety of brandy which excites.
That’s not downplaying Cognac Park’s attributes – but it does taste more traditional & lacks the individual panache portrayed by Longueville.
The opportunity to explore new categories of spirits with contrasting styles at reasonable prices.
Doing an WSET L2 in Spirits course a while ago widened my horizons to the tasty delights of Brandy – under which Calvados & Cognac both reside.
Calvados – made from apples – & Cognac – from grapes – adhere to French rules & regulations relating to how, where & what they are distilled from.
Picking these up in the Celtic Whiskey Shop allows me to compare the two differing spirits.
Chateau du Breuil, Calvados VSOP, 40%
Quite a distinctive bottle on this one!
Exhibits a shade lighter pale brown than the cognac. Fresh, fruity dry cider nose with caramelly undertones. Clean & crisp on the palate. The barrel ageing is evident with some tannic spiciness & a decent warmth.
A pleasantly refreshing little number.
Cognac Park, Cognac VS, 40%
Presented in an elegant elongate bottle.
A deeper, richer caramelly nose presents itself. The palate has a rounder feel, redolent with fruity warmth flowing into a surprising tangy, lip-smacking spicy finish.
Nice
Thoughts
I like the cidery start to the Calvados – & the spicy finish of the Cognac.
Both of these brandies show the diversity of the category.
WestmeathWhiskeyWorld 