Founder Jens Reidar was on a ship bound for the Americas when he found himself working in a small town north of Bordeaux.
What was meant to be a short stop over, turned into a life-long passion. Reidar fell in love with a local girl and then fell for cognac itself – the diversity of its soil, and the treasure that is a fine bottle of expertly distilled spirit. In 1926 the first bottle of signature Larsen Cognac is born.
Larsen XO Signiture Serve
Since then, the company has grown to include eight products with the latest launching this February in tandem with its launch in the US. The brand recently joined with Marussia Beverages USA for distribution. The line includes a VS, VSOP, VSOP Reserve, XO, XO Reserve, an EXTRA, and a Cognac Fine Champagne in a unique, ship shaped bottle.
Larsen Aqua Ignis VS Cognac
The new launch is an Aqua Ignis (A.I.) and is the first Cognac in the world to be aged in steam toasted bottles. Each cask is built from traditional, fine-grained sessile oak sourced from the Tronçais forest in France. Once crafted, each cask then is submerged in hot water before being toasted over a fire. The process is repeated three times resulting in the oak being “steam toasted.” This technique is used to reduce the impact of any tannins, acidity and smokey notes that would usually be released. Instead, the liquid takes on intense notes of vanilla with added notes of mocha, brioche, and toasted bread all with a soft, silky finish.
Larsen Viking Ship Cognac Fine Champagne
Heading backwards in the process – the distillery at Larsen uses a special distillation procedure which is crucial to the style of cognac the brand makes. Once vinification is complete, the wines are double distilled without the lees. This ensures that the original fruity aromas of the wine are preserved while also producing an eaux-de-vie with finesse and elegance.
The next step is for the young cognac to move to barrels. All of the barrels used by Larsen, with the exception of the barrels used for Aqua Ignis, are crafted from sessile French oak and lightly toasted before use. Each expression is then allowed to age for different periods to allow it to develop.
The brand suggests that most of its cognacs be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cognac glasses, to allow for the delicate notes and aromas to be experienced. That said, Larsen VS, is a perfect option for those who wish to explore cognac differently and is delightful in cocktails.
Larsen VS with Lemonade
Larsen VS with Lemonade
Ingredients:
- 1 1/2 oz. Larsen VS
- Lemonade
- Ice
- Grapes
Preparation: Pour your Larsen VS over ice, top with lemonade and stir. Garnish with grapes.
The post The Line Cognac Lovers Need To Know appeared first on Chilled Magazine.
Source: Mixology News
