The Last Drop's 1925 Cognac Release
For prestigious spirits hunters The Last Drop Distillers, this last year has been one of their most significant yet. The company celebrated 10 years by bringing three outstanding releases to market, expanding its portfolio with its first fortified wine, a duo of Colheita Tawny Ports as well as its inaugural American spirit, a 1982 Bourbon, to the great pleasure of rare spirits collectors worldwide. The Last Drop Distillers is pleased to continue broadening its horizons this year with its exceptional 14th release and first bottling of a Grande Champagne Cognac from 1925. A deeply complex and exquisite eau-de-vie, this extremely rare Cognac will fill just 182 precious bottles - a further testament to the discerning tastes of the Last Drop Distillers team - with only a third making their way to the United States.
“The moment we first tasted the 1925 Cognac, we knew we had a miraculous spirit before us,” says Rebecca Jago, Joint Managing Director of The Last Drop. “It is an extraordinary cognac from a single, precious cask, to rival any of the great names. It is made more poignant by the fact that it was distilled in the year my father, Tom Jago, was born. We celebrate his wonderful life with our 14th release, of which he would have been most proud.”
1925 was the year The Great Gatsby was published, and the Jazz Age was in full swing; work on Mount Rushmore began, and the first edition of The New Yorker was released. Across the pond in the UK, two fairly influential 20th century figures were born – Margaret Thatcher and Richard Burton, along with The Last Drop Distillers Co-Founder Tom Jago, who sadly passed in October 2018. Simultaneously, on a small wine-growing family estate in the prestigious Grande Champagne region of Cognac, perfectly ripened fruit was being picked and double distilled in a traditional wood-fired still. The delectable liquid rested in a special cask, undisturbed, until 1940 when German forces advanced on the region and the cask had to be quickly hidden behind a false wall, remaining there, forgotten for nearly a century.
Fast forward to 2018; The Last Drop Distillers shifted their palates to France, searching for a cognac from Grande Champagne, considered the best and most prestigious Cru in the cognac region. While searching deep in the region, they found exactly what they had been looking for –a family estate that had been growing and distilling superb cognacs since the early 19th century, producing incomparable liquid, only possible with generations of experience. Deep in their cellar lay this long-forgotten cask of cognac that had only recently been uncovered behind a wall. Unearthed by The Last Drop, the liquid demonstrates the absolute best of cognac, effortlessly living up to its remarkable heritage.
With its fascinating history, this exceptional cognac is unlikely to ever be seen or tasted again. The exact grape varietals have been lost, but the 1925 Cognac was likely crafted predominantly of Folle Blanche together with Ugni Blanc, Colombard and even a little Muscat. In addition, because of its distinct sweetness, the 1925 Cognac is believed to have been aged in an eclectic choice of an ex-Pineau des Charentes cask. On the eye, the 1925 Cognac is mahogany, with burnished copper highlights, while on the nose it opens with floral notes and fruity hints of red and black cherry. Once tasted, it simultaneously demonstrates its impressive vintage, while having all the freshness and lively vigor of an eau-de-vie a third of its age.
Here’s what the experts say:
Clive Carpenter, Gérant, Domaine Breuil de Segonzac:
“This is one of, if not the, best cognacs I’ve ever experienced. Rarely does a single, unblended eau-de-vie reach such all-round perfection.
A perfect balance between all its component parts, giving it a wonderful elegance and freshness. The nose and the palate are equally powerful and complex, and no single aroma or flavor dominates the others. It is perfect harmony in cognac.
The fruit (very ripe exotic fruits, such as mango, jackfruit, mangosteen and papaya) overlays mellow but powerful oak flavors which stop short of astringency. The almost explosive ‘rancio’ provides great length to the palate but is beautifully offset by the elegant acidity that brings a touch of lightness. In the finish, we detect an unusual hint of ‘café au lait’, with a touch of English toffee, alongside oaky, orange peel, prune and nutty flavors.”
Ben Howkins, Director of The Last Drop Distillers
“Lovely amber hues with a hint of spring and immediate engaging aromas that keep flowing to the senses. A gently swirling trout river comes to mind – then a sudden veritable explosion of wondrous tastes lights up the mouth. Glorious velvety fireworks just keep evolving and evolving – 1812, eat your heart out. An eclectic wake-up call.
This once in a lifetime experience, by the definition of the rarity of stock, can only be appreciated by the very few.”
Founded by industry geniuses Tom Jago and James Espey in 2008, and now led by their talented daughters, Rebecca Jago and Beanie Geraedts-Espey, the Last Drop Distillers continues its journey to discover and bottle the rare final drops of the finest and most precious parcels of spirits across the globe.
As with all of The Last Drop releases, the 1925 Cognac comes together with its signature 50ml miniature replica and pocket-sized tasting book with additional pages for personal tasting notes. Retailing for an MSRP of $4750, the 1925 Cognac will be available upon request at select Fine Spirits and Wine Merchants nationwide.