🥃 Hine Cigar Reserve XO
XO cognac from the Hine house since 1996: 20 spirits from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois, over 15 years old; 40% ABV.
Hine Cigar Reserve XO is an XO cognac from the Hine house, and the only one in the permanent range that contains spirits from Fins Bois. The strength is 40% ABV, according to the importer Hotaling & Co. The first release, according to Wine Industry Advisor, appeared in Europe in 1996.
The blend was conceived by Bernard Hine and Nicholas Freeman of the London company Hunters & Frankau, which sells cigars; hence the name. According to the importer, it contains 20 cognac spirits from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois. Wine Industry Advisor writes that the spirits are aged over 15 years and that Fins Bois adds richness. The cognac is distilled twice and matured in oak barrels.
Why this matters to you. Because of Fins Bois it is not a Fine Champagne, unlike Hine Rare, and not a pure Grande Champagne like Hine XO 1er Cru. Both XOs are at least 10 years old. The WHO reminds: there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (per Hotaling & Co.) |
|---|---|
| Minimum maturation | spirits over 15 years (per Wine Industry Advisor) |
| Raw material | 20 cognac spirits from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois |
| Year founded | 1996 (first release in Europe) |
| EU category | category 4 wine spirit (Cognac PDO) |
| Legal basis | Cognac PDO (EU eAmbrosia register EUGI00000014112) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Hine Cigar Reserve XO → packed in → 🍷 Oak barrel ← packed in ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel
- Made from
- 🌿 Grape
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🥃 VS, VSOP, XO
- Part of
- 🥃 Hine, 🥃 Cognac
- Similar and different
- 🥃 H by Hine VSOP, 🥃 H by Hine VSOP, 🥃 Hine XO 1er Cru, 🥃 Hine XO 1er Cru
Frequently asked questions
Is Cigar Reserve a Fine Champagne?
No. The blend contains spirits from Fins Bois, so it does not carry the Fine Champagne designation.
When did Hine Cigar Reserve XO appear?
The first release appeared in Europe in 1996, according to Wine Industry Advisor; in the USA in 2021.
How old are the spirits in Cigar Reserve XO?
Over 15 years, according to Wine Industry Advisor.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🥃 VS, VSOP, XO — Cognac age statements, based on the youngest spirit in the blend.
- 🌿 Grape — The berries of the grapevine, whose juice becomes wine, juice and raisins.
- 🥃 H by Hine VSOP — The younger cognac from the Hine house: a VSOP Fine Champagne made from 20 cognac spirits of Grande and Petite Champagne, created in 2004; 40% ABV.
- 🍷 Drunk driving — Never drive after drinking wine: alcohol slows your reactions.
Similar
🥃 Hine Rare · 🥃 Hine XO 1er Cru · 🥃 H by Hine VSOP · 🥃 Hennessy Fine de Cognac · 🥃 Rémy Martin XO · 🥃 Courvoisier V.S
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Hotaling & Co.: Hine Cigar Reserve XO (blend of twenty eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Fins Bois; Bernard Hine and Nicholas Freeman; 40 %)
- Wine Industry Advisor: HINE Cognac Debuts U.S. Release of Cigar Reserve XO (30.11.2021; first bottling in Europe 1996; twenty eaux-de-vie over 15 years; only HINE expression with Fins Bois)
- The Spirits Business: Cognac house Hine kicks off portfolio-wide revamp (06.06.2017; H by Hine VSOP created by Eric Forget in 2004; range incl. Rare VSOP, Cigar Reserve XO, Antique XO Premier Cru)
- eAmbrosia: Cognac / Eau-de-vie de Cognac / Eau-de-vie des Charentes, EUGI00000014112 (GI, registered)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)