History and Philosophy

Following a decade working in the London wine trade for Corney & Barrow, Berry Bros. & Rudd and then my own business, I decided in the early 1990’s to move to France and create a new Cognac house.  Maison Cognac Park was founded to make straightforward, unadulterated cognacs presented in simple packaging.  In essence, the idea was to offer an alternative to the stereotype of over caramelised brown cognacs sold in flamboyant crystal decanters or frosted glass bottles.

It was a fortunate period to enter the cognac market when prices of eaux-de-vie were at their lowest for many years.  I started by acquiring a bedrock of unblended spirits that had spent between two and sixty years in Tronçais oak casks. I housed these eaux-de-vie in cellars on the banks of the River Charente, on the outskirts of the town of Cognac, where the 80% relative humidity is ideal for storage. 
       

       I then made my own blends.  Cognac Park has a very recognisable house style which is simple and clean.  I do not add any caramel or boisé, a concentrate of tannin often used to imitate barrel ageing.  My cognacs are therefore pale in colour and free of the pervasive taste of burnt sugar. 

       The nose of a cognac is especially important.  The nose of Cognac Park is light with hints of stewed fruit, honey and vanilla, confirmed on the palate by the suggestion of cigar boxes, Christmas pudding, horse saddles and mushrooms.  It is no secret that the older the eaux-de-vie the more interesting and softer the cognac; all my blends are appreciably older than the minimum legal requirements.

       Cognac Park uses the traditional bottle known as the cognaçaise.  In a simple bottle with an understated label, I hope that Cognac Park will give great pleasure to the aspiring amateur de cognac.