Hine's Latest Ultra-Luxe Cognac Was Distilled in 1975

Most cognacs are classified by age category: VS (very special), including liquid at least 2 years old, VSOP (very superior old pale), denoting a minimum of 4 years, and XO (extra old), meaning at least 10 years old. But some older cognacs step outside the box and instead carry a vintage date, indicating the entire bottling came from just a single production year.

Cognac Thomas Hine & Co. was founded in 1763 in Jarnac, the less-famous municipality in this southwest France region compared to Cognac itself, which is located about 10 miles away. Long holding a reputation for quality, Hine is also one of cognac’s most prolific producers of single-vintage expressions. It even has a dedicated warehouse for its vintage cognacs called the Chai des Millésimes (French for “vintage wine cellar”), a riverfront building that houses over 100 maturing casks, some dating back to the mid-1940s. Hine’s latest release was pulled from just one of those barrels—one filled in 1975.

Half a Decade In The Making

In keeping with Hine’s house style, this release was distilled entirely from grapes grown within Cognac’s Grande Champagne district, known for having the best quality. After a double distillation that included the lees—dead yeast cells and sediment left over from fermentation, not too dissimilar from backset used in sour mash for whiskey—the cognac was aged for 50 years. Cellar master Paul Szersnovicz notes that it was first aged in a virgin cask, but over the decades, it was likely rebarreled into cognac refill casks at least twice. Hine uses this practice for its ultra-aged vintage cognacs, and it’s meant to foster greater control over oxidation and the contribution of oaky flavors.)

As is the case with many spirits this old, this cognac was a multi-generational project—passing through the hands of three different cellar masters. It was distilled in 1975 under the guidance of the late longtime cellar master Bernard T. Hine during his first year at the helm. (Bernard had already been working at the family business for over a decade by that point, but it wasn’t until 1975 that he was put in charge of production.) In 1999, the barrel was put into the care of Eric Forget, another longtime cellar master who held the post until 2024 and passed away earlier this year. Forget oversaw the construction of Hine’s vintage cognac warehouse in 2000, and was also responsible for some of the rebarrelling. Finally, the cognac was bottled this year under the recently appointed Szersnovicz, who oversaw the final few tastings and determined the final product’s proof point.

The single cask yielded around 500 bottles, housed in custom-made Limoges porcelain decanters designed by French luxury company Bernardaud. Some 450 of these decanters are presented in an embossed box, at a suggested retail price of $5,500. The remaining 50 decanters are available as part of a higher-end collector’s edition ($10,100). That package also includes two crystal tasting glasses, a porcelain tray, coasters also designed by Bernardaud, and a carved wooden base. Only 15 bottles are currently allocated for the U.S.

How Does It Taste?

Hine 1975 50 year old Single Vintage Single Cask Cognac

ABV: 47%
SRP: $5,500
Availability: 500 decanters globally, 15 currently allocated for the U.S.

From the start, this greets you with vibrancy and liveliness that belie its age. The nose is rife with burnt orange, grilled pineapple, clove, cinnamon, and toasted almonds. It’s similarly zesty on the palate, with orange peel, lemon meringue, baking spice, and ginger, all wrapped in a cloak of tropical fruits. It fades with pleasant mellow spices, gingerbread, and soft oak. Those recasking efforts have certainly paid off: at 50 years old, there are virtually no sharp edges, and the tannins are well balanced.