The fourteenth pouch of our Cognac-Expert Advent Calendar brings back a cherished name: Famille Cabanne, this time with a Fins Bois Lot 89. Last years calendar still lingers in memory thanks to Richard Delisle Lot 53 – Famille Cabanne in disguise – which delivered an absolutely stunning experience. Their Lot 24 Grande Champagne, a 100-year-old marvel, impressed even more and left us speechless until it came time to put the glass content into words. Now a new Fins Bois from the same family steps up, and expectations run very high for this Lot 89.
Famille Cabanne Fins Bois Lot 89 Cognac (2025) Review
This Famille Cabanne Fins Bois Lot 89 was distilled from Ugni Blanc grapes grown on the Fins Bois cru, with their lees, in their numerous 25 hectolitre stills. It matured for 36 years in casks made by Seguin Moreau cooperage, using wide grain and medium toast oak, and it rested in a very damp cellar. It was reduced to just 50% ABV before bottling, and unfortunately, at the time of writing, this is not available yet to purchase. You’ll have to keep a look on Cognac-Expert and other retailers!
Colour:
Cider
Nose:
Neat: Warm spices at first, then rich layers of ripe apple, pear and peach, joined by pastry notes, honey, vanilla and a touch of white pepper or light spice. Hints of citrus – lemon zest or orange peel – emerge alongside floral undertones like jasmine, while deeper whiffs reveal beeswax, old leather and damp cellar wood, grounding the fruitiness.
With water: Clementines appear, joined by a pinch of saffron and cumin. A dunnage warehouse with wet gravel provides a slightly musty, damp and mineral aroma, whilst beeswax infused with orange peel brings more warm comfort.
Palate:
’Neat: The palate feels full-bodied and velvety, bursting with juicy fruits such as caramelised apple, apricot jam, tangerine and nectarine, all wrapped in honeyed sweetness. As the tasting evolves, gentle spices like cinnamon, clove and nutmeg appear, balanced by roasted hazelnuts, almonds and a mild oak influence that adds structure without overpowering the fruit. Notes of vanilla, cocoa and a refreshing herbal and minty touch add further complexity. Finally, there’s also a woody and chocolatey bitterness.
With water: Reduction brings slightly more bitterness, cocoa beans and dark chocolate, as well as icing sugar and honey. But it doesn‘’’t change the palate dramatically. Beware of not adding too much water, however, as excessive reduction might thin the palate out too much.
Finish:
The finish runs long and graceful, sustaining the fruity and nutty themes with lingering impressions of dried apricots, walnuts, honey and dark chocolate. A refined dryness, mineral edge or soft wood spice leaves a clean, elegant aftertaste that slowly fades, occasionally marked by hints of liquorice, pepper or tobacco.
Comments:
Another stunning Cognac from Famille Cabanne. I was impressed by their site and still room when I visited them in February, and learnt a lot talking with their main distiller, and this delicious Famille Cabanne Fins Bois Lot 89 is another proof of their talent, on the one hand, and how great Fins Bois cognac can be, on the other hand. When will this be available for purchase, please?
Rating: 8/10
Advent calendar provided by Cognac-Expert.