ABV: 40%

Country: France

Pale & Dry gets its name from its natural color—much lighter than most eau-de-vie its age—and its natural level of sweetness. Unlike many in the region, Delamain never uses the permissible amounts of caramel or sugar to modify the taste or color of its brandy. Instead they strive for the purest expression of Grande Champagne Cognac.

Like most Cognac houses, Delamain does not grow grapes but instead purchases eaux-de-vie from trusted grower/distillers who offer their finest spirits for evaluation after each harvest. The selected spirits are aged separately in old, 350-liter oak barrels called roux rather than new oak, which would lend too much tannin. After 20 to 25 years of aging, the Cognac is blended, then allowed to age 2 years further to marry the flavors and textures of its components. Instead of using distilled water to bring the alcohol content down to consumption level, Delamain blends in extremely old Cognac with lower alcohol contents.