How to make a Cognac Oak Fashioned

There is a bit of weight of expectation that comes with a tag. Cognac is a name that carries the weight of expectation, having been named after the commune of Cognac, France. A variety of brandy made from wine-growing regions, Cognac is a drink for the fanatics. One Cognac that stood true to the name and the glory of the drink was the American Oak Cognac from Maison Bache-Gabrielsen.

The American Oak Cognac was awarded a gold medal at the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards on the back of its 92 points score. Bringing together leading bartenders, bar directors, bar managers and buyers of the US mixology industry, the Bartender Spirits Awards is an annual spirits competition that rates spirits based on their quality, value and packaging. With the competition focused on finding and recognizing the best spirits for the on-premise sector of the country, winning a medal at the competition is no mean feat. Winning a gold medal, however, puts the spirit in an elite class.

Bache Gabrielsen Cognac

Hervé and Christian Bache-Gabrielsen, Source Facebook

Maison Bache-Gabrielsen was founded by Holmestrand native Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen in 1905. At the heart of the distillery was the love and dedication for creating the finest cognac possible. Today, several generations later, the idea and the heart of the distillery remains the same. At the helm of the distillery, today is Thomas’ great-grandson Hervé Bache-Gabrielsen, who recently took over the day-to-day management from his father, Christian Bache-Gabrielsen.

Hervé’s leadership was richly rewarded with American Oak’s win at the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards. The American Oak is a first of its kind innovative cognac aged in authentic Tennessee Oak barrels for a minimum of six months. It is a cognac that blends modern techniques with those that are ancestral to the distillery. The cognac retains a distinct character from the barrels which blends with notes of tropical fruits like coconut and pineapple. The rich and luxurious cognac also shows bursting flavors of fruit, vanilla and honeysuckle. There are also sweet caramel notes that linger on the palate.

The American Oak Cognac is a lively French savoir-faire with an American twist. The cognac is also a delightful choice for a nice cocktail. Take the Oak Fashioned, for instance, a recipe that marries cognac with angostura bitters.

Oak Fashioned Cocktail

The Oak Fashioned cocktail, Source Instagram

Ingredients:

5 cl american Oak cognac Bache-Gabrielsen
1 dash angostura bitters
1 sugar cube
1 dash sparkling water
1 orange zest

Method:

In a mixing glass, crush a bit of sugar soaked in Angostura until the sugar is completely dissolved. Add ice, then the cognac, and fill with sparkling water. Mix with a spoon and then serve in a glass tumbler. Decorate with orange zest. Have fun sipping the Oak Fashioned.

While the American Oak was the winner at the 2021 Bartender Spirits Awards, there are other wonderful spirits produced at Maison Bache-Gabrielsen. The Bache-Gabrielsen Classic range consists of: