Ampersand Vinea Cognac Cask-Aged Grain Spirit is made from 75% straight rye whiskey and 25% grain neutral spirit, aged more than nine years in XO Cognac casks. The non-chill-filtered spirit is bottled at 46% ABV and retails for about $59 per 750 ml bottle.
The nose has touches of baking spices, stone fruits, apples, honey, and vanilla. The taste has cinnamon and clove notes from the rye with a syrupy sweetness underneath, and the finish is long and well-balanced.
Ampersand Vinea is a successful and unique blend of 8 year old rye and Cognac-finished 9 year old grain neutral spirit, that delivers a crisp, complex, and fruit-forward profile that embraces the potential of GNS in American whiskey.
That said, its pricing feels fair for something this uncommon, making it a relatively low-risk purchase. If it clicks for you, it’s a rewarding find; if not, the investment is modest. Those with an interest in cognac influences will likely find the concept especially appealing.
