The Intoxicologist

There is something in the air at Experience Le Nez de Courvoisier.  This crowded tasting room began with an Exclusif Apricot Sidecar that was by far one of the high point cocktails of the tasting rooms visited this weekend.  Granted there is no possible way one person can visit all of the tasting rooms, so there are sure to be conflicting opinions on which tasting rooms had the best sample, best visually pleasing or greatest overall cocktail of the day. 

However, after seeing the same Hotel Monteleone Bonnet Carre Room transform from one tasting room after another over a five day span, Courvoisier took the cocktail challenge by the martini glass and transformed this room into a taste experience to be remembered.  Exclusif Apricot Sidecar came across not too sweet with a beautifully placed simple apricot garnish.  Better yet, this cocktail may be easily translated at home exactly as it was presented at Tales of the Cocktail 09.

Exclusif Apricot Sidecar

2 ounces Courvoisier Exclusif

1 ounce Fresh Lemon Sour

1 heaping bar spoon of quality Apricot Preserves

Shake well and serve up.  Garnish with a Dried Apricot or Lemon Twist.

As tasters trickled into the darkened room they were greeted with a number and cocktail at the door.  The number signified their tasting group for an exquisite blindfolded tasting of Courvoisier Exclusif and Courvoisier XO Imperial.  Blindfolded  and headphones on listening to beautifully rendered music delighted the senses as a Courvoisier spokesperson led participants through the nuances of the spirit.  The ‘oohs and aahs’ of those involved were an obvious indication of the success of Courvoisier’s tasting event. 

On the other hand, as each participant was blindfolded and invited to take yet another whiff of the wonderful aroma of the spirit I have to wonder how many were aware that the air was being permeated by perfumed sprayer with the very aromas they were being encouraged to notice in the spirit.  Did they really smell dried plums, ginger cookies and roasted coffee in the Courvoisier Exclusif Cognac or crème brulee, candied oranges and floral notes in the Courvoisier XO Imperial?  These aromatized notes no doubt exist in the spirit, but rather than spray the air with these fragrances to heighten the senses of partakers possibly it would have been better to allow the spirit to translate those characteristics accurately.  For me the spray was so overwhelming I was unable to accurately translate the aroma of the Courvoisier XO Imperial or taste it fully for that matter.  As the Courvoisier spokesperson correctly pointed out at the beginning, aroma has a huge impact on our ability to taste.  The perfumed air overtook the Courvoisier’s finer points for me.  All I could smell was heavily perfumed flowers in the background hanging overhead by the time the instruction was given to taste.

Exclusif Raspberry Julep

2 ounces Courvoisier Exclusif

5 muddled Raspberries

5 fresh Mint Leaves

1 ounce Pure Cane Syrup

Muddle and shake well.  Double strain into martini glass and garnish with one fresh raspberry and mint leaf.

Copyright 2009 Cheri Loughlin – The Intoxicologist – All Rights Reserved