Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 62 - Serious Brandy #1 - 2020 - 40.1%
#1 of two old cognacs from 1962, produced by Pierre de Joyet, bottled by JLP, and selected for Serious Brandy. Steve documented the distribution of these 1962 Pierre de Joyet casks which is included below (accurate as of April 19th, 2021).
The Pasquets purchased four of five casks of 1962 Petite Champagne Ugni Blanc Cognac from this estate. Three of the casks were split up between different buyers.
Cask 1 (40.1% abv) Split: Serious Brandy #1 and Malternative Belgium
Cask 2 (40.4% abv) Split: Serious Brandy #2 and Wu Dram Clan (abv is mislabeled as 40.3% on the Serious Brandy bottling)
Cask 3 Not purchased
Cask 4 (41.9% abv) Split: Legacy Brandy “The Duke” and La Maison du Whisky Through the Grapevine
Cask 5 (41.3%) Pasquet L'Esprit de Famille “Le Cognac de Pierre”
Note that the Cask numbers were designated by the producer. They were not released in that order (Cask 4 was released first, then 1 and 2, and now 5).
Notes: Very layered on the nose. Concord grape. Blackberries. Mixed berries. Mango. More barrel driven than Serious Brandy #2. Old wood sugars. Background earthiness and fresh sap. The palate is more tannic and medicinal - plum, leather, medicinal roots, cherry bark. Moves slowly in light waves across the palate. Long with the cherry bark in the finish.
Score: 9 (Stash Two) The structure here gentle but powerful. Depth, length, and complexity - check. The tannic and medicinal notes were challenging for some I shared this with, but for my palate those notes kept the pour endlessly engaging.
Rating System
10 - Reevaluate The Budget
9 - Stash Two (If Able)
8 - Stash One (At The Right Price)
7 - Highly Recommend It To Strangers
6 - Solid - Above Average
5 - Acceptable For The Situation
4 - Not Vocally Complaining
3 - Anything Else To Drink?
2 - Nothing Nice To Say
1 - Drain Pour