Exshaw Vintage Grande Champagne Cognac (70cl, 40%)

A Grande Champagne cognac distilled in 1973, bottled at 40% in a 70cl bottle. Exshaw was founded in 1805 by John Exshaw, who bought young cognacs and let them mature in France, contrary to the custom of the time, when English traders usually shipped cognacs in barrel to London to age. His son Thomas-Henri continued the company and exported to countries where England ruled; it gained prestige and was well regarded in the first half of the twentieth century. After the Second World War it lost market share and struggled, and in 1975 it was bought by Otard. Exshaw has since been withdrawn from the market, though bottles from old stocks can still be found; the last produced qualities were XO and Extra Age d'Or, both Grande Champagne, and millesimes are regularly offered.