Once upon a Monday, Hans and I would educate ourselves amongst the company of the utmost knowledgeable, on all things beverage. One of our first learning experiences together, was slow sipping a delicious selection of cognac's from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne & Borderies.
Most people know and often refer to cognac as, Hennessy, and rightfully so, as Hennessy & Co. sells roughly 50 million bottles a year worldwide, and accounts for about 40 percent of the world’s cognac, in turn making it the world's largest cognac producer. The cognac's we had the pleasure to smell, sip and scribble notes on, one fine Monday, were of a wonderful producer, making a truly special spirit.
Although Hennessy is dominant in the cognac industry, it too has a small and special role, if not in the spirits industry, within the world of fragrance.
Spending most of his life around aging barrels and the life of luxury, Kilian, churns out a compounded line of fragrances that mirror the complexities of a fine brandy.
Kilian, who's been in the fragrance game for 15 years and running, has at last, completed his primary line entitled, L'Oeuvre Noire. This August, Kilian released the tenth and final fragrance of the collection; Sweet Redemption. Created by perfumer Calice Becker, (who is outstanding in her own right, although she has no link to cognac's crown, only a strong working relationship with its heir), Sweet Redemption is by far (in my humble opinion) the most profound of them all.
I don't like to play favorites, but I can't help it, opening with Orange Blossom, Becker confronts the nose head on with what she knows best, indubitable floral accords. To me, Sweet Redemption is the Grand Marnier of fragrances, as it's rounded out with bergamot, broom flower and vanilla for a smooth subtlety.
Visit, bykilian.com to purchase By Kilian fragrances or to learn more.
