Courvoisier National Brand Ambassador Zahra Bates and Chocolat Moderne founder and head chocolatier Joan Coukos hosted an indulgent Valentine’s Day tasting that reimagined traditional chocolate pairings. The event showcased Courvoisier’s iconic expressions alongside – and incorporated into – Chocolat Moderne’s award-winning confections. Below are samplings of these perfect pairings to enjoy any time of the year.

Courvoisier VS with Don Juan Dark Venezuelan Ganache
Pairing Notes:
Let’s begin with something simple and not too sweet. This dark ganache made from 72% Venezuelan couverture is one of the Valrhona’s finest. The delicate fruit and structured tannins of Courvoisier VS pair nicely with the bold, lingering ganache.

Courvoisier VSOP ​ ​with Persimmon Peach Caramel
Pairing Notes: 

The subtle jasmine and peach notes present in Courvoisier VSOP are illuminated by the persimmon and white peach in this nuanced chocolate. At once, discerning, elegant and complex. 

Courvoisier XO with Madame ‘X’tasy Salted Illy Espresso Caramel
Pairing Notes:

Courvoisier XO consists of exotic vanilla and crème brûlée bouquet, candied orange aromas and iris flower notes. The burnt sugar, salt, and espresso flavors in the caramel, although bold, are well balanced and present a powerful complement to the delicious flavor in the XO.

Complete the night with a Courvoisier infused Banane  Flambée chocolate and a decadent custom cocktail …

Toast for Two
1 ¾ parts Courvoisier XO
2 dashes Miracle Mile Toasted Pecan Bitters
1/2 part Cold Brew Concentrate
3/4 part Lustau East India Sherry 1 Brandied Cherry
Build in a mixing glass with ice; stir gently and strain into coupe or cocktail glass. Garnish with a brandied cherry and serve.

Courvoisier VS Cognac
Courvoisier VS (Very Special) is a mouth-watering blend of cognacs offering complex fruity notes, with a unique richness and depth.
“An elegant and harmonious cognac with strong notes of fresh fruit and a fresh oaky taste.” Patrice Pinet, Master Blender

TASTING NOTES
Perfect harmony and balance of aromas Aroma is everything for cognac. The character of each individual note is shaped by its terroir, grape, cask and years of maturation.  This is why Courvoisier takes great care to nurture every possible aroma at every possible stage of the cognac-making process. In recognition of this quality Courvoisier is consistently awarded in numerous spirits competition.

Fresh Oakiness: Testament to the fine French oak of our casks and our coopers’ skillful artistry, but carefully controlled to make sure it doesn’t dominate the fruity and floral aromas.
Spring Flowers: The hallmark of selected grapes harvested at their peak by our expert wine growers. These highly aromatic grapes mature quickly and produce a very smooth cognac.
Ripe Fruits: The distillation in our smaller 25 hectolitre Alambic pot stills produces luscious notes of fresh grapes, pear, lemon, orange and other ripe fruits, the signature aromas of Courvoisier VS Cognac.

PERFECT SERVES
Neat: Serve Courvoisier VS Cognac at room temperature and after pouring, leave for a minute to allow it to fully release its bright and youthful aromas. Our Master Blender calls this ‘La Minute Mystique’.
For a fresh twist, Courvoisier VS Cognac can be served super-chilled in an icy bottle so it pours like nectar.

Cocktails:
With its pronounced fruit and flower aromas, Courvoisier VS is one of the most versatile spirits when it comes to creating cocktails and punches. From simple mixes with cola, lemonade and ginger ale to more elaborate cocktails that build on its fresh and fruity flavours.

Bottle Size: 750ml
SRP: $30.00

Courvoisier VSOP Fine Cognac
Discerning, elegant and complex, VSOP Fine Cognac develops exceptional aromas of jasmine, peach and toasted almond. This cognac intricately crafted is exquisitely balanced.
“This perfect aromatic balance gives a subtle and elegant VSOP, appreciated neat or mixed in long drinks of cocktails.” Patrice Pinet, Master Blender

TASTING NOTES
Perfect harmony and balance of aromas Aroma is everything for cognac. The character of each individual note is shaped by its terroir, grape, cask and years of maturation.  This is why  Courvoisier takes great care to nurture every possible aroma at every possible stage of the cognac-making process. In recognition of this quality Courvoisier is consistently awarded in numerous spirits competition.

Jasmine: The distillation on the lees is a complex and meticulous process but it gives our VSOP Fine Cognac fruity and musk notes, evoking jasmine aroma.
Toasted Almond: From our insistence on ageing in oak barrels. After several years in our French fine-grained oak barrels, the spirit develops nutty notes and ages to produce a sweet, caramelized flavor resembling that of toasted almonds.
Peach: Evolving from the meticulous selection of the best wines from cognac region, which, when distilled and aged, begin to conjure the soft, luscious aroma of ripe peach.

PERFECT SERVES
Neat: Sip and savour the smooth floral subtlety of Courvoisier VSOP at room temperature. Once poured, leave it for a minute or so to fully develop its Tasting notes. Our Master Blender calls this ‘La Minute Mystique’.

Cocktails:
The subtle dryness and sensual flavours of Courvoisier® VSOP Cognac make it superb in long drinks and cocktails with sophisticated mixers.

Bottle Size: 750ml
SRP: $40.00

Courvoisier XO Cognac
Consistently recognized as one of the finest XOs in the world, Courvoisier XO is a very old blend of fine and wellmatured cognacs, offering rich exotic aromas. The perfect balance of intense flavours have been patiently evolved and nurtured for at least two decades.
“An exotic vanilla and crème brûlée bouquet, candied orange aromas and iris flower notes, all come together to excite the senses.” Patrice Pinet, Master Blender

TASTING NOTES
Perfect harmony and balance of aromas Aroma is everything for cognac. The character of each individual note is shaped by its terroir, grape, cask and years of maturation. This is why Courvoisier takes great care to nurture every possible aroma at every possible stage of the cognacmaking process. In recognition of this quality Courvoisier is consistently awarded in numerous spirits competition.

Iris flower: The iris flower flavour, coming from our selection of the best cognacs, is amplified through maturation in our humid warehouses situated next to the Charente River and under the warm Cognac sun.
Crème brûlée: When a cask is toasted, it gives off an aroma of fresh bread as the flames caramelise the natural sugars in the oak. This gives younger cognacs obvious notes of vanilla and caramel, but gradually, over decades, these intense flavours soften to give us a delicate crème brûlée flavour.
Candied orange: Through the natural interaction of long maturation in our fine-grained oak casks, the cognacs give delicate sweet notes of candied orange.

PERFECT SERVES
Neat: The rich and exotic aromas in Courvoisier XO have taken decades to perfect, so it’s worth taking your time over such a remarkable cognac.

Cocktails:
Conventional wisdom says that cognac should be warmed, but we recommend simply serving at room temperature before serving. Don’t swirl for the first nosing; otherwise the cognac releases alcoholic aromas that overpower its more delicate scents.

Bottle Size: 750ml
SRP: $140.00