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Hennessy’s Master Blender’s Selection is One-of-a-Kind Art in a Bottle

By Sam Slaughter Dec 17, 2019 5:58 PM

When you think about classy, elegant beverages, cognac is near — or at — the top. It’s hard to argue with this point, as its pedigree is long, classy, and, well, French (which is almost enough on its own to be seen as the most elegant of alcohols). The newest limited-edition release from Hennessy, though, may be the epitome of that ideal.

Master Blender’s Selection N°2 is a cask strength cognac (43 percent ABV) created by seventh-generation master blender Yann Fillioux to follow up last year’s first Master Blender’s Selection release.

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“Like a self-drawn portrait, the Master Blender’s Selection is an intimate expression of creativity and passion. A blend based purely on imagination and innovation, it follows its own rules, traveling an individual timeline from vineyard to bottle,” the company says in a statement.

Hennessy master blender's selection Cognac — Image used with permission by copyright holder

Master Blender’s Selection N°2 was crafted with eaux-de-vie that are at least 10 years old. Each was aged for 18 months in young, coarse-grained French oak barrels. Following this, they were aged in older barrels for a refined finish. The eaux-de-vie that were chosen had been set aside in a cellar especially for the purpose of making a Master Blender’s Selection batch.

The true showing that this cognac is fine art is the fact that each Master’s Blender Selection is only made once. Ever.

We’re not talking about how, say, the McRib is around for a limited time “never to be seen again” when it really comes back six months later — somehow — to hordes of hungry fans. No. When a Master Blender Selection is done, it’s done. You will literally never be able to get it again.

From nose to finish, this is one smooth, elegant cognac. Baking spices combine with sweet vanilla, and light notes of fruit on the nose lead into raisins, a little oak, and some floral notes on the palate. These flavors guide you to a bit more oak and vanilla on a smooth as velvet finish. The strength of the new oak used is muted just enough by the older barrels that you know it is there, but it is in no way overwhelming.

Master Blender’s Selection N°2 will only be available in select markets in the U.S.

Tom Brady-backed Hero launches low-carb pasta for National Pasta Month

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October is National Pasta Month — and if you ask me, it’s not getting nearly enough hype. There’s never a bad time for pasta, but the high carbohydrate content can keep people running the other way. Luckily, Hero has us covered, bringing back pasta night with three new low-carb pasta shapes. Backed by celeb athletes like Tom Brady and Kevin Durant, the Hero Pasta collection now includes Elbow Macaroni, Penne and Mini Spirals. All three deliver the taste, texture, and bite of traditional pasta with a fraction of the carbs.

Every box of Hero Noodles has the same nutrition profile: 5g net carbs, 0g sugar, 32g fiber, 12g plant-based protein, and 80 calories per serving. With over 40,000 5-star reviews, Hero has shown that pasta lovers no longer have to settle for pea-based noodles, spaghetti squash, or cauliflower stand-ins. For someone like me who has followed a generally low-carb diet for years, innovations like Hero’s low-carb noodles are a true game changer (and make it possible to enjoy National Pasta Month just like everyone else).

Europe is slowly embracing wine in pouches instead of bottles. Is America next?

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Boxed wine gets a bad rap because, well, it’s wine in a box. You’ve heard all the negative connotations by now: They’re cheap, unsophisticated, and downright boring. You walk into any party with boxed wine, and you’ll not only raise eyebrows, but also be persona non grata at the next shindig. I’ve personally never sipped wine from a box, though that has a lot to do with the fact that my introduction to wine happened when a date of mine from more than 20 years ago ordered a bottle of Château Ste. Michelle Riesling at a restaurant I frequented. The Riesling was sweet, crisp, and truly delicious for someone who runs on beer, tequila, rum, and whiskey. That bottle of Riesling, however, sparked curiosity: Buying a dozen red and white bottles of wine from my local shop in Pasadena, California. The bottles sat mostly on my wine rack collecting dust. I’d open one every few months when guests preferred something buttery or fruity over carbonated or oaky booze.

It wasn’t until my trip across Tuscany in April 2018 that I really learned to appreciate wine. After touring the tiny village, one wine came out on top, and it’s one I order every chance I get when dining out: Chianti Classico. But always make sure the bottle carries the black rooster symbol. The older I get, the more I appreciate a glass of wine. Heck, last summer while visiting Cuban Creations Cigar Bar in New Orleans, the lovely waitress recommended a glass of Cabernet Sauvignon for the Arturo Fuente Gran Reserva cigar I was about to light. It was a great recommendation.

Bowmore is bringing a new 20-year-old Islay single malt to the US

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Twenty years is a long time to wait for anything, let alone a whisky, but Bowmore is betting its newest release is one worth the delay.

The distillery, founded in 1779 in the town of Bowmore, is the oldest licensed distillery on Islay. It’s also the second-oldest in Scotland, and one of the few that still runs its own floor maltings, using peat smoke to dry the barley on-site.