Hine Antique XO Premier Cru is a Grande Champagne cognac produced by Thomas Hine & Co. in Jarnac, France. It is a blend of more than 40 eaux-de-vie sourced exclusively from the Grande Champagne region and aged a minimum of 10 years. Bottled at 40% ABV, it typically retails for about $230. According to the brand, it offers aromas of spice and licorice, with a palate featuring chocolate, cedar, hazelnut, quince and fig, and a long, layered finish.
The first sip brings dusty oak and old leather flavours across the palate which give way slowly to herbaceous impressions of cinnamon, lemongrass and herbal mint. The restraint I noticed earlier has been replaced by a robust and complex flavour across the palate. (Probably because I allowed the glass to site for a full ten minutes before sipping.) There is a light butterscotch sweetness present which is just firm enough to provide a complement for the herbaceous quality of the cognac.