MARTELL... RITA

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I LOVE COGNAC.  I adore whiskey too (& bourbon) (I'll always be faithful to you Old Fashioned) but lately I've been enjoying a glass of cognac.  It's super good on the rocks or neat with just a few drops of water which opens up the liquid - experts say it opens it up like a peacock's tail.   

While doing some free lance work for Pernod Ricard USA I was lucky enough to meet and enjoy a cocktail with Jean Jacques Regnault of Cognac France & Brand Ambassador for Martell.   We talked it up about Cognac.   Martell Caractére is not an aggressive spirit but it's elegant, complex and balanced - aka - smooth.  I'm not kidding when I say you can tastes hints of these flavors in a glass of Martell:  Caramel, Citrus, White Pear, Tangerine Peel, Grapefruit, Cinnamon, Clove, Vanilla, and it's not 'woodsy.'   See why I say it's complex?  And it has a nice long finish. 



Top 3 Ultra-chic Martell Cognac Food Pairing Tips: 
I've tried them all and I promise your eyes will roll back in bliss.

1)  Cognac + Dark Chocolate = Perfection
Go get some... Have a date anytime soon? Impress.  

2)  Cognac + Orange, Mango or Honey Dew Melon. Cut the melon in half, remove seeds, fill crater with Martell Cognac, dig in with your spoons!  So delicious.  Or cut up slices of orange and mango and enjoy with a glass of Martell. Amaz....

3)  Tora (tuna belly) Sashimi - Dip your sashimi in cognac instead of soy sauce.  The nuttiness of Cognac helps bring out the savory dimensions of fatty foods.

And don't forget to Enjoy a Martell-Rita
A margarita made with Cognac!
In a shaker add:
Ice cubes
2 ounces fresh lime juice
2 ounces fresh orange juice
1.5 ounces Martell Cognac
Agave if you like... 

Shake it up!
Your guests will want another.  

Top 3 What to Know about Cognac:
1) Cognac is really considered a brandy, or eau de vie, and named after Cognac France, a wine growing region. 

2) To bear the name Cognac, an
Appellation d'origine contrôlée, its production methods must meet certain legal requirements. In particular, it must be made from specified grapes - Ugni blanc are the most widely used.

3) The brandy must be twice distilled in copper pot stills and aged at least two years in French oak barrels.  Most are aged more than the minimum legal requirement. 


Learn more about MARTELL COGNAC's Collection: SINCE 1715