{"product_id":"kelt-xo-cognac-1er-cru-grand-champagne","title":"Kelt XO Tour du Monde Grande Champagne Cognac 750ml","description":"\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eMaison Kelt, founded in 1987, built its entire identity around reviving a genuinely ancient Cognac tradition: aging at sea. Every Kelt Cognac, after completing traditional maturation in French oak, embarks on an actual three-month voyage around the globe aboard a merchant ship — the \"Tour du Monde,\" or \"world tour.\" As the house explains it: \"during the Tour du Monde, each molecule of the cognac is in contact with wood repeatedly as the cognac is washed around in the barrels. This produces a remarkable ageing effect in just three months,\" with the constant motion, changing temperatures, and maritime salt air contributing a roundness and complexity the house believes simply can't be replicated sitting still in a warehouse.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThis particular expression, XO Tour du Monde, is the very Cognac that launched the entire Kelt company — a genuinely complex blend of 21 distinct, venerable Grande Champagne lots, made exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes grown in that specific cru, widely considered to produce the finest grapes in the entire Cognac region. The blend ages in small, 72-liter Limousin oak barrels specifically to maximize wood contact during its ocean journey, before bottling non-chill filtered at 100 proof (50% ABV).\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eThe results have earned genuinely extraordinary recognition. Wine Enthusiast awarded a remarkable 97 Points and named it the Best XO Cognac — describing \"floral honeysuckle blossom notes with candied apricot and hints of tobacco\" on the nose. It's also the only XO Cognac ever awarded the Platinum Medal at the World Spirits Championship, a genuinely rare distinction. The House of Glunz's own tasting notes describe \"dark amber, mahogany\" in color, with \"delicate scents of flowers: narcissus, jasmine, honeysuckle,\" a \"multifaceted touch of tawny port and walnut,\" alongside \"subtle wood notes: vanilla oak, cedar wood, cigar box,\" and \"candied fruits: tangerine, apricot, pear,\" concluding it's \"velvety and sophisticated on the palate. The model of balance between tastes and aromas.\" Caskers' tasting confirms \"subtle notes of wood on the palate, including oak and cedar, which complement notes of port, walnuts, apricots, pears and apples,\" with a \"smooth and elegant\" finish carrying \"a touch of sweetness.\" This is genuinely extraordinary Cognac — a real testament to what three months at sea can do to an already exceptional blend.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eOrigins \u0026amp; Craftsmanship\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eKelt XO Tour du Monde Grande Champagne Cognac is produced by Maison Kelt, founded in 1987 with the mission of reviving the historic tradition of ocean-aged Cognac. The blend brings together 21 distinct, venerable Grande Champagne Cognac lots, made exclusively from Ugni Blanc grapes grown in the Grande Champagne cru — approximately 34,000 hectares of quiet hills and rich, chalky soil widely considered to produce the finest Cognac grapes in the region.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eAfter traditional maturation in small, 72-liter Limousin oak barrels in France, the Cognac is loaded onto a merchant ship and sent on a genuine three-month voyage around the world — the \"Tour du Monde.\" The gentle, constant rolling motion of the ship keeps the Cognac in repeated contact with the wood throughout the barrel, producing an accelerated, uniquely rounded maturation effect the house believes cannot be replicated through stationary aging alone. The Cognac is bottled non-chill filtered at 100 proof \/ 50% ABV, 750ml.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics Reviews\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eWine Enthusiast — 97 Points, Best XO Cognac\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePlatinum Medal — World Spirits Championship\u003c\/strong\u003e (the only XO Cognac ever to receive this honor)\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCognac Expert (extended tasting note):\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\"On the nose, this Cognac presents floral honeysuckle blossom notes with candied apricot and hints of tobacco.\"\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eTasting Profile\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eNose\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eDark amber, mahogany. Delicate narcissus, jasmine, and honeysuckle blossom lead, joined by tawny port and walnut, alongside candied apricot and hints of tobacco.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003ePalate\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eVelvety and sophisticated, with vanilla oak, cedar, and cigar box carrying the entry, developing tangerine, candied apricot, pear, caramel, and toasted almond, balanced by port and walnut richness.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFinish\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003cbr\u003eSmooth and elegant, closing with a touch of natural sweetness — genuinely long and sophisticated, reflecting the wine's unique ocean-aging process.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eQuick Overview\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cdiv dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003ctable\u003e\n\u003cthead\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eCategory\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003cth scope=\"col\"\u003eDetails\u003c\/th\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/thead\u003e\n\u003ctbody\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eXO Cognac — Ocean Aged\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eABV \/ Proof\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e50% ABV \/ 100 Proof\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eGrape\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e100% Ugni Blanc\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCru\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGrande Champagne (blend of 21 lots)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAging\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eTraditional French oak, then a 3-month ocean voyage (\"Tour du Monde\")\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBarrels\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e72-liter Limousin oak\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eChill Filtered\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNo\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eProducer\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eMaison Kelt — Cognac, France (founded 1987)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eCritics\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eWine Enthusiast 97 Points, Best XO Cognac\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAwards\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003ePlatinum Medal, World Spirits Championship (only XO Cognac ever to win)\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eStyle \/ Identity\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eGenuinely extraordinary, ocean-aged Cognac — the release that launched Maison Kelt itself\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eAromas \u0026amp; Flavors\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003eNarcissus, jasmine, tawny port, walnut, candied apricot, cigar box\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003ctr\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eBottle Size\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003ctd\u003e750ml\u003c\/td\u003e\n\u003c\/tr\u003e\n\u003c\/tbody\u003e\n\u003c\/table\u003e\n\u003c\/div\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eFood Pairings\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cul dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCandied apricot tart\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eTobacco-infused chocolate mousse\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eAged, nutty cheeses\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eDried fruit and nut boards\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eServing Note\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e\n\u003cp dir=\"ltr\"\u003eEnjoy neat in a tulip glass to allow the rich aromas to fully develop and the layered flavors to unfold gradually.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003chr\u003e\n\u003ch3 dir=\"ltr\"\u003e\u003cbr\u003e\u003c\/h3\u003e","brand":"Breakthru","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":30251568658,"sku":"","price":185.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0363\/8621\/files\/Kelt_XO_Tour_du_Monde_Grande_Champagne_Cognac_750ml.heic?v=1789143329","url":"https:\/\/www.blackwellswines.com\/products\/kelt-xo-cognac-1er-cru-grand-champagne","provider":"Blackwell's Wines \u0026 Spirits","version":"1.0","type":"link"}