Cognac Bubblyternative: Jean Fillioux 1992 Malternative Belgium, Lot 92 TTG, Cask No. 212

What's your alternative on 12/31 if you don't like Champagne? How about Grande Champagne!
Today we're back with Jean Fillioux, a family-owned grape-to-glass Cognac producer that we regularly follow here on DS. They're readily available, they're reasonably priced, and we've had some very good ones (the category benchmark La Pouyade at • Intro to Cognac Part 2... and the fantastic Van Wees pick at • Cog/Armag/nac: Filliou... ) albeit also some slightly meh ones (the No. 88 at • The Brandy Box: Jean F... ), and you sbould consider them for your Grande Champagne popping needs. Stats:
Jean Fillioux 1992 28 Year Old Cognac Grande Champagne No. 12, "La Flèche de Feu" (bottled by Malternative Belgium; 100% Ugni Blanc, bottled 07/2021; 43% ABV), 85-/100
Jean Fillioux "Lot 92" Cognac Grande Champagne, Cask No. 9295 for The Whisky Exchange (bottled by Through The Grapevine; 100% Ugni Blanc, bottled 2023; 46% ABV), 87/100
Jean Fillioux XO Premium Cognac Grande Champagne, Single Cask No. 212 (100% Ugni Blanc, lot 1920 bottled circa 2021; 47.5% ABV), 88+/100
There is this importer note for the US market 212 for clarification (thanks Dal Kaf): "This barrel pick #212 is not a vintage dated barrel. It was a special blend made by Pascal Fillioux, left at cask strength, only 1 barrel, and we loved it. It is about 20 / 25 years old. The reference in the back [lot 1920] is just that, Pascal's own reference." (Also, n.b.: armagnac.de claims the Malternative Belgium pick is actually made from Petite Champagne grapes - despite the Grande on the bottle - and from the profile I don't necessarily not believe it.)
The 212 is pretty much exactly what you want from a Grande Champagne, it's big and powerful but it's also got fruit and florals and a fun turkish coffee note. (I also wouldn't be surprised to find it sitting on closeout racks, so buy up). The 1992, by contrast, is a bit of a softy, easygoing and kind of delicious but it's not winning the flight (and do skip the water). The TTG is interesting, with an herbaceous quality that I haven't really seen before, but it too is doing a lot of the big meaty GC things you want (but again, do skip the water). All of them are superior to a bottle of Veuve Clicquot Yellow, if you ask me.
Extra special thanks to my Different Spirits on Patreon ( / differentspirits ) -
Eric Amig
Anthony
Darcy Bean
Jamie Brown
Kingsbury bushcraft
Clematis
Rob D
Liam Davitt
Joe Devine
Samuel Dose
Stephen Eckert
eon Ingmar nine
Steve Frazee
Ian Gendler
John Halliday
Alex Hurd
Trevor Jarrait
Jonathan Lestingi
Kyaru
Ariel Mserious
Jason Newquist
No Thanks
Chris Rhodes
Randy Rice
RumSquirrel
Chris Sherman
Gordon W
Zach W

[@NicStride]

Cool review, was interested in trying these until I looked at the prices, haha! I wish Cognac was less price prohibitive, because I enjoy the category. Hard to justify when I can buy Armagnac or Scotch, though!

[@differentspirits4157]

Go for the basic La Pouyade if you can, it's usually only sixty bucks or so and it gets pretty good distribution (and it honestly hangs with these bottlings quality-wise). Cognac's a little bit of a minefield in terms of what's actually worth grabbing, but when you find a good one they tend to be really special.

[@NicStride]

@@differentspirits4157 Thanks for the suggestion! I was debating between the Tariquet 8 and Arran 10, but seeing as I'm really enjoying the more delicate and foral side of spirits at the moment, after watching your review I think the Pouyade might be just the ticket! And quite a lot cheaper than the other two as well! Funnily enough, I live in La Rochelle, a town where you can distill grapes into a brandy and legally call it Cognac, but somehow I think you probably have easier access and distribution to Cognacs! :D Keep up the great work, bud!

[@samueld1]

Happy Holidays into New Years! Aw, knew I should've purchased that eagle chicken 212 in Lincoln Park. There is more cognac out there so I'm not too miffed however.

[@differentspirits4157]

@@samueld1 Thanks! I mean, yeah: worth it at closeout pricing, but at standard retail it's a bit of a stretch.