SAZERAC DE FORGE
VINTAGE 2000 & 50 YEAR COGNAC
COGNAC, FRANCE
WHY BUY:
This duo of revivalist releases from Sazerac, the owner of Buffalo Trace distillery, is meant to conjure the pre-phylloxera style of Cognac, when a rustic, earthy, robust character was in fashion. Built from a complex blend of older grape varieties from Cognac’s golden age (and shunning the more conventional Ugni Blanc), these small-batch distillations taste like nothing else being made today in the world of Cognac … or, for that matter, like nothing else being made today in the world of spirits.
WHAT THEY'RE SAYING:
Both Whisky Advocate and Forbes praised the company for this current crop of releases, with the latter singling them out for being “rich yet adaptable” spirits that, among other things, will “greatly elevate a classic Sazerac cocktail." In a piece published this past December, Upscale Living Magazine aptly described the brand as a "revival in fine cognac" that "looks not to the recent past, but to the shimmering dawn of Cognac itself.”
OUR TASTING NOTES:
* The Grande Champagne 2000 shows its age like a distinguished professor. Its serious oak presence tastes earned, with no hint of corner cutting or artifice. Coffee cake and toasted vanilla build toward slowly, steadily — even majestically — toward something that reminds you why Highland single malts get so much attention.
* The 50-Year-Old pulls a magnificent surprise: rather than overwhelming you with its half-century credentials, it opts for seduction. This one is all smooth, velvety elegance. And we loved the lingering notes of peach cobbler à la mode.
THE STORY:
Picture this: it's the 1800s, and Sazerac de Forge Cognac is sailing from French ports to cocktail bars in New Orleans, establishing the template for what sophisticated spirits should taste like. Then disaster strikes in the form of phylloxera, a tiny insect that became Europe's most devastating agricultural terrorist. Within decades, 90% of vineyards are gone, taking with them centuries of grape diversity and the complex flavor profiles that defined great Cognac. Sazerac de Forge vanished into history, too, along with most of its contemporaries. Now, fast-forward to 2016: The Sazerac Company spots an opportunity for a comeback. The historic Domaine Breuil de Segonzac estate (220 acres in Cognac's Grande Champagne heartland) has come up for sale. Not just the property, but everything on it: the stillhouse, the barrel inventory, the vineyards, even the 19th-century château. The folks at Sazerac did more than just to buy it; they revived it, all the way down to drawing upon its original notes and traditional methods. Master Jean Montarsolo now oversees production, and he is blessed with an unerring understanding that Cognac operates on its own time.
WHAT TO PAIR THEM WITH:
The Grande Champagne 2000 pairs excellently with cigars or rich desserts. As for the 50-Year-Old: no partnering, just slow, contemplative sipping.
FUN FACT:
Sazerac de Forge is currently cultivating historic grape varieties including Montils, Folle-Blanche, Colombard, and Sémillon, the same varietals that defined Cognac's golden age.
OUR GUARANTEE:
As always, we only source directly from the estate to ensure that your bottles arrive with pristine provenance. Secure these rare and fine expressions for your collection today!
*Offer NOT valid in-store. This offer is made pre-arrival, with wines estimated to be delivered to your preferred store in Summer 2026. All sale prices are the lowest available at Total Wine & More and ONLY valid through Concierge Sales. No further discounts or coupons may be applied. The price reflected on your order form is subject to change after the order is placed in the event of a change in tariffs or taxes that are imposed by the U.S. government, or in the case of currency fluctuations of 10% or greater. Offer not valid in KS, MI, NC, NE, NY, TN, VA, & WA. This offer will expire on Wednesday, March 4, 2026.