As you may already know, our blogging buddy The Whisky Woman (aka Alison Patel) has recently launched a brand new whisky in NYC called Brenne, a Single Malt Whisky that is distilled, aged, and bottled in Cognac, France (yes, THAT Cognac!). Since we have already given you some of this whisky’s back story, we’ll skip that part of our post and get right to the review.
But first, here is a bit more information about this whisky, taken from the label on the back of the bottle:
Since 1920, our family-owned distillery has been handcrafting some of the finest small-batch spirits to come out of Cognac, France. Brenne continues this tradition through the artistry of our 3rd generation master distiller. Starting with organic barley harvested from the fields surrounding the distillery and naturally pure water from nearby Charente, he refines the spirit over live-fire copper Alambic stills. The whisky is then aged in new French Limousin oak barrels, before being finished in young Cognac casks to create a lighter, more balanced profile. Brenne is a truly original single malt that is perfectly smooth and refined.
And now for our impressions…
So photogenic! But how does it taste? Let’s find out…
Limpd’s Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Golden, darker than straw but not quite amber.
- Aroma: A blend of fruit, vanilla, toffee, hazelnuts and licorice. Reminds me a little bit of the liquidy vanilla buttercream icing that you would pour over a lemon cookie. My better half suggested vanilla extract and Strawberry Quick.
- Taste: Very light. You almost can’t taste the alcohol. Very sweet with the aroma carried through in a multi-layered flavor. There are swirls of vanilla, cream and berries with a very mild finish.
This is the first whisky that I have had that was finished in cognac barrels and I have to say that the maturation process has created a very different whisky. Mild, sweet, flavorful. Not a peat bomb from Islay, a buttered rum toddy from the Highlands or a heathery mint from Eire. Just something totally unique. As a further test, I gave some to Pappy and my mother-in-law and they both had a more than favorable response to the whisky. My Pappy noted the cognac influence with some added pleasure and my mother-in-law was blown away that this was a product of France and not Scotland.
___________________________________________________________
G-LO’s Tasting Notes
- Appearance: Golden yellow with a slight rosé hue when held up to the light.
- Aroma: A few months back, The Whisky Woman schooled me on the topic of esters during a brief conversation on her blog. I can now say that I have a better idea of what she was talking about. This whisky is giving off all kinds of fruity sweetness. I’m getting ripe berries, whipped cream, cane sugar, vanilla nougat (think Torrone), and even a hint of fennel.
- Taste: Very light mouthfeel and little to no alcohol burn when sipped at full strength. The fruitiness in the nose carries through to the palate. All of the flavors are concentrated on the tip of my tongue. For whatever reason (the Cognac barrel finish perhaps?), I’m getting a rosé wine feeling from this whisky, i.e. a little bit sweet, but with a dry and somewhat astringent quality. As you approach the finish, some herbal notes come through with a mild pepperiness in the background. Once the pepperiness fades, you are left with a pleasant, herbal aftertaste.
- Barrel No. 264
- ABV: 40%
Brenne French Single Malt Whisky is a very unique drinking experience. This is one of the lightest whiskies that I’ve ever tried, but that doesn’t mean it’s bland. Brenne has a lovely balance of fruit and light spices from start to finish. If ever there was a gateway whisky, Brenne would be it. Smooth, flavorful, and very easy drinking, this is the whisky to share with a friend that has always been afraid to drink whisky. Brenne is complex and flavorful enough to satisfy an experienced whisky drinker, yet approachable enough to not scare anyone away. I am really enjoying this whisky.
___________________________________________________________
Have you had the opportunity to try Brenne French Single Malt Whisky? If so, please tell us your thoughts in the comments below.
But wait! There’s more…
If you’d like an alternative opinion about this whisky, check out The Coopered Tot’s highly detailed and beautifully written review.
Thanks again to Alison Patel for sending us this very generous sample!
