A new Hine Antique XO Premier Cru has been released on the international markets.

Antique XO is a blend of about 40 eaux-de-vie from the Grand Champagne area. The first Hine Antique XO was first blended in in the 1920 by George Hine.

Eric Forget is the cellar master (maitre de chai) at Hine. He revealed that the age of the Cognacs used in this blend is about 20 years, but there are also eaux-de-vie from the 1944 vintage in this new XO.

The bottle comes in an elegant red and grey box. Price is at £ 120 ($ 180) in the UK and available at high-end specialists such as Harvey Nichols and Berry Bros & Rudd.

Colour: tawny brown, glints of orange.
Nose:  touch of vanilla, spices and baked, dried fruits

Notes of light tobacco

Palate: quite round and beautifully full, deep aromatic richness of spices, roses, pepper, coriander and vanilla

Winner of plenty medals at the International Spirits Challenge, including the Cognac medal in 2001