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- Cognac News March 2, 2011 in Cognac News 10
We asked our readers: If Barrack Obama would drink Cognac, what kind of Cognac and which Cognac brand would he pick? We know it, but come on! It’s a fun thing.
Thank you for the answers so far, and if you have an opinion – use the comments below at the bottom of this article.
Barack Obama
Here are some answers:
Colby Louie da 13th
10 Responses
Why are most people seduced by the marketing might of the big name brands and falling into their traps of believing that very ordinary cognacs – with huge profit margins – are somehow better than smaller producers’ products which are much finer, as well as cheaper? If you priced a turd at $1,000,000 someone would buy it because they would think it art – but it is still a turd…
Obama is rare, so he would pick a rare one! something old a good hors d’age or even older! nothing comercial!
Bache Gabrielsen Hors d Age 
He’d make his own brand and call it BarrognacJuda
L’or de Jean Martell definitely. The top of the top.
If Obama could pick an actual cognac, he would pick one made by a small family operation that had a compelling story behind it, something about hard work and adversity and innovation. He’s always doing things like that. Cognac Expert editors – here is where we need your input! We don’t know the small family operations like you do. Who is a good example?
But politically, he could not afford to support anything French over anything American – the right wing would tear him apart. So cognac is out. He’d have to go with a domestic brandy. And I see no reason why he would not pick the special expression that Germain-Robin, official supplier to the White House, made exclusively for the White House. See article at the bottom.
I recommend Germain-Robin’s XO, by the way. It’s light and clean and livelier and more floral than most cognacs I’ve tried. It is superbly balanced and delicious. It has a high percentage of pinot noir in it, which no cognac could have by law, so we’re dealing with something different here. If you want to try something that goes in a slightly different and interesting direction but still shines with the quality and craftsmanship of a fine XO cognac, give it a try. If I had to criticize it, I’d say it could use a little more burn, to communicate a bit more depth. Still very good though.
I didn’t think much of their VSOP equivalent I have to say (“Fine Alambic Brandy”, ~$50). It was kind of rough and harsh compared to its cognac peers, with a hint of something on the initial nosing reminiscent of some kind of petroleum distillate, like a solvent or paint thinner or the like. That fades after a bit, leaving something vaguely floral and more honeyed behind. There are better cognacs out there for the price if you ask me, or even for a bit cheaper. You’ll read a lot of good things about it online though, so clearly tastes vary.
he would probably drink one a Maine Giraud XO….after all he is a poet!
@Eric: If he would pick a smaller producer, he would go for one of the smaller mentioned here, for example Maggie’s post: Maine Giraud. We know the cognac distillery & farm and it’s indeed a very interesting history and background for a cognac producer. But there are many others.
President Obama drinks only Armagnac, no cognac whatsoever! None! Men of great power and prestige do not drink cognac! That is why so much less Armagnac is produced, only for the greatest of the elites. Yes, anyone can buy Armagnac, but the vast majority of the unwashed masses drink cognac. Armagnac appeals to the tastes of great men and the tastes of great men appeal to Armagnac!
L’or de Jean Martell of course!