BELLE DE BRILLET PEARS & COGNAC

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Michael Hepworth

BELLE DE BRILLET PEARS & COGNAC

The Sparkle of Excellence

By Kay Schroeder

HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)12/13/16/–Maison Brillet is the owner of the 165 acres of vineyards located between the heart of the Grande Champagne region of Cognac and the River Charante in the Petite Champagne area. Maison Brillet produces some of the finest wines and distilled spirits available such as cognacs, Pineau des Charente, Liquors, Cocktails and Chocolates.

In the center of the Grande Champagne, the first still was installed in the vineyard in 1656 by Guy Brillet, marking the beginning of the double distillation of cognac. Six generations later (1850), Vivien Brillet increased the size of the vineyards and installed his cellars and stills on the banks of the Charente at Graves in the Petite Champagne region bordering on the Grande Champagne.

In 1920, James and his son Jean started selling their Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne Cognacs in bottles and participated in first sales of Pineau de Charente, under the name J. R. Brillet.

Jean-Louis Brillet, tenth generation of the family, extended the range of the Brillet products in 1985 with a Liqueur Belle de Brillet. He also increased the export of his products accounting for 70% to 80% of total sales. In 1995 the cocktail Pearle de Brillet was born and in 2000, a range of Domaine bottled wines, Maine des Aireaux.

Paul Pacult’s Spirit Journal awarded Belle de Brillet Liqueur Pear and Cognac 94 Points and the Highest Recommendation in the Ultimate Beverage Challenge 2013 with the following declarations “Lush, ripe, fruity, and remarkably elegant…one of the best fruit liqueur opening aromas, finishes as gracefully as any liqueur available today.”

What a delight it was to sample this beautifully bottled pear infused cognac. Billet even included recipes for three drinks to make using this exceptional cognac. Be sure to try one, or all three of them.

Honey Belle

1 oz. Belle de Brillet

¾ oz. Gin

½ oz. Lime Juice

½ oz. Honey

Champagne

Shake and strain spirits, lime juice and honey into a champagne flute. Top with champagne. Garnish with a lime wheel.

The Garden

1 oz. Belle de Brillet

1 oz. Vikingfjord Vodka

¾ oz. Lemon Juice

¾ oz. Simple Syrup

Mint, Green Grapes, Cucumber, Green Apple

Muddle lemon juice, simple syrup, mint, grape, cucumber, and green apple. Add spirits and shake with ice. Strain into a rocks glass. Garnish with mint sprigs and a slice of pear.

Strawberry Blonde

1 oz. Belle de Brillet

1 oz. Bourbon

¾ oz. Lime Juice

Strawberry

Ginger Beer

Muddle lime juice and strawberry. Add spirits and shake with ice. Strain into a highball glass. Top with ginger beer. Garnish with candied ginger and a sliced strawberry.

Or, try the simple (though warm and cozy) recipe I have created: