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50% ABV. Inspired by Luke Jacques’s mild obsession with Tiki cocktails and questionable lounge music, here we have the second release of the sublime Animus Ananas Gin. And what an epic it is. As you might expect, fresh pineapple accounts for the lion's share of the botanical load, with ginger, turmeric and galangal brought in for a spicy counterpoint to the fruit's sweet aromatics. For complexity there’s kaffir lime, pineapple sage, lemon verbena, lemon myrtle and lemon balm—all picked and prepared on the day of production—and ground sesame seeds to enhance the Gin’s oily, textural mouthfeel. The first release under Animus' Test Pressings label lasted not much longer that the time taken to listen to one of Luke Jacques' infamous lounge LPs. The tiny run of pineapple-infused Gin proved to be as popular in the market as it was back home in the Kyneton distillery and bar, and so this year the Animus team has gone to town. For the encore they’ve both refined the recipe and given us a little more Ananas Gin to play with. Far from being a case of 'second album syndrome', the intensity and quality of the spirit has also followed suit. So, what has changed? This year’s version has had a full 12 months steeping and maturing, with the fresh pineapple rotated more frequently, conferring greater vibrancy while keeping the flavours cleaner and spicier. Test Pressing maestro, distiller Sarah Wallace has also steeped the pineapple rinds for longer to enhance the intensity, and by dialling the ABV to 50% (from 44.8 %), Animus has put their trademark mouthfeel front and centre as well as anchoring those key citrus notes. And finally in its gradual move to becoming part of the core range, they’ve line-priced Ananas with the other 500ml offerings.

Aged, as Albert Tesseron puts it, “for one generation” (meaning 25-plus years) the Extra Légende was created from a blend of Tesseron Grande Champagne reserve wines. Its deep complexity was built around the inclusion of around 50 eaux-de-vie (including a number made from the Folle Blanche variety, a rarity in Cognac today) and its maturation in cellars of different humidity levels.

MÉMORIAL AN INVITATION TO TRAVEL THROUGH A UNIVERSE RICH IN FLAVORS AND AROMAS, DELICATE AND COMPLEX. OLFACTORY NOTES A sumptuous bouquet composed of an ample and complex aromatic palette combined with notes of green pepper, fresh apple, spices, tobacco, roasted coffee, cocoa and finally rancio. TASTING NOTES Rich and velvety entry accompanied by subtle nuances of anise, violet and liquorice. Long finish of satin honey. Elegant, perfectly balanced and beautiful length in the mouth. At the start of its ageing, this cognac undergoes a rapid passage in new barrels to keep the natural aromatics of the eaux-de-vie. It will then be transferred to an old barrel to continue its development in a humid cellar to promote its roundness and accentuate the rancios. This blend is a mixture of eaux-de-vie with and without lees, between 40 and 45 years old from the terroirs of Petite and Grande Champagne. With its ABV of 42%, the reduction of eaux-de-vie in a natural way is favored. This high degree offers a more accomplished taste discovery as well as a better perception of aromas. This cognac contains no additives, sugar, or caramel. Only a slight filtration is carried out to preserve its aromatic qualities as much as possible.