Brandy Tennessee Cask Finish Sab's

Brandy Tennessee Cask Finish Sab's is a one-of-a-kind artisanal creation, a Burgundy spirit distilled in Beaune and then aged in casks that once held American Tennessee whiskey, the work of an itinerant still operator who moves through the region's greatest wine villages.

This bottling is presented by Sab's, made from a spirit distilled from Chardonnay and Pinot Noir from Burgundy's vineyards, then aged for several months in American oak casks that held Tennessee whiskey. Bottled at 43% ABV in limited edition. Sab's, the name of Mathieu Sabbagh, remains one of the last ambulant distillers in Burgundy, and this Tennessee Cask finish continues a line of original creations that marry the best of Burgundian terroir with rare spirit casks.

Ageing and provenance

Matured first in Burgundian oak, then finished for several months in American casks that held Tennessee whiskey, this brandy marries the characteristic floral and fruit finesse of Chardonnay and Pinot Noir spirits with the rich vanilla, caramel sweetness inherited from American whiskey. This dual maturation gives the spirit a particular sweetness, characteristic of Tennessee style, while preserving the elegance and delicacy of Burgundian grape varieties. Sab's distils his spirit directly at harvest time, in Beaune but also in Meursault, Gevrey Chambertin and Pommard, perpetuating a tradition of itinerant stills that vanished over a century ago across most of the region.

Tasting profile

On the nose, vanilla and caramel richness mingles with toasted oak, a note of dried fruit and a hint of honey inherited from the American whiskey cask. Beneath these indulgent layers, the floral and fruit finesse of Burgundian varieties asserts itself in the background, carried by a light note of stone fruit. On the palate, the brandy is silky and velvety, balancing the sweetness of the American cask with the natural elegance of Burgundy spirit. The palate reveals woody, spiced and gently caramel notes that structure the whole without masking the spirit's original delicacy. The finish is round and lingering, with a woody and delicately sweet final note.

The producer

Sab's is the name under which Mathieu Sabbagh distils from Beaune, in the heart of Burgundy, using an itinerant still that moves from village to village at harvest time, as it did a century ago. This rare practice allows him to distil the best of Burgundy at the closest point to harvest, whether Pinot Noir and Chardonnay from Beaune, Meursault, Gevrey Chambertin or Pommard, perpetuating an artisanal craft that is fading away.

Tasting and pairing

This Brandy Tennessee Cask Finish Sab's is best enjoyed neat, in a tulip glass, at the end of a meal, to fully appreciate the meeting of Burgundian finesse and American oak richness. It pairs beautifully with a cigar, as the master distiller himself suggests, but also finds harmony with caramel desserts, aged cheese or dark chocolate, whose richness answers perfectly to the woody sweetness and fruity elegance characteristic of this Burgundy brandy.