Subtle Spirits Ancêtres 30 YR Single Cask Dudognon Cognac

PRODUCER NOTES:

TASTING: “AROMAS - This spirit is gentle at first, with subtle impressions of Manuka honey, pipe tobacco, gingerbread cookies, marzipan, roasted almonds, and sandalwood. Depending on the glass, and as it opens up, more bright grape aromas emerge; PALATE - Rich and viscous, enhanced by the higher bottling proof. Notes of dried golden raisins, ginger, cigar leaf, honey, and exotic spices. As it opens up, it constantly changes, bouncing between bright fruit and savory potpourri spices.”

OVERVIEW: "Ancêtres is a multi-vintage (1990-1994) single-cask barrel of cognac bottled at a cask strength of 49.5% abv. It was bottled in France - as legally required - in November 2024 and labeled 30 years old, the age of the youngest vintage in the cask. It yielded 250 bottles. While only a few single-casks have come from Dudognon to the US, virtually none were at cask strength, and this is the oldest single-cask of Dudognon to come out of the domaine. The labels were hand-applied, and a custom Pantone color wax dipping was added after arriving in the US.

The name Ancêtres means ancestors in French. A nod to the name of the first Cognac that brought notoriety to the Dudognon family by way of their entrance into the 1898 International Spirits Show, the name is also an homage to the vines on the Dudognon property that have been under family care for generations."

D&M NOTES:

ABOUT THE PRODUCER: Founded by Joshua Thinnes, SF-based Subtle Spirits is an independent bottler of fine spirits which uniquely marries the world of art and distillation in extremely limited edition releases. Leveraging the relationships he has forged over years in the industry, Josh sources premium distillate from leading producers and bottles single casks and proprietary blends under his own labels. And although the brand may suggest otherwise, there is nothing "subtle" about Josh's creations as they tend to be bold, rich and complex on both the nose and palate.