Not that he has enough business ventures going on, Jay-Z helped introduce D’usse (pronounced “dew-say”) – a cognac being produced by Bacardi that is marketed in direct competition with Hennessy.
It is said that the unveiling of D’ ussé is a direct dig at the most popular Cognac producer – Hennessy. As of now the Cognac sector is dominated by Hennessy, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier and Martell, which have been producing Cognacs to flatter the taste buds across the globe. However, a little newness is required and Bacardi’s D’ussé seems to have nailed it right, especially when people were looking for a fresh and a unique blend to melt in their mouth.
Produced by a 220-year-old Cognac house, Otard and presented in elegant packaging, D’Ussé Cognac was first launched in the US back in 2012. Since then, they’ve also brought out an XO quality Cognac.
On the bottle there is the double-barred cross or Le Croix de Lorraine (The Cross of Lorraine), an emblem historically representative of French patriotism and, more specifically, the Free French Forces during World War II. This cross in particular denotes a theme of “courage, honour, and perseverance”—a fitting trifecta given the story behind the liquid. Additionally, the property’s proximity to the River Charente makes for an interesting and coveted physical environment for ageing, giving D’USSÉ Cognacs (currently available in VSOP [Very Special Old Pale], and XO [Extra Old] expressions) a distinct woodiness and spice-forward flavour profile underneath delicate fruit and floral notes. VSOP is the second-highest level of Cognac ageing (on the official age scale) with XO being the highest.
Try D’USSÉ at home either neat, on the rocks, or in one of these Jay-approved cocktail recipes.
THE CODE
1.5oz D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac
1oz Disaronno Originale Liqueur
2oz pineapple juice
Shake all ingredients with ice; strain over fresh ice into a rocks glass. Garnish with a lemon wedge.
THE 13TH (official tour cocktail)
2oz D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac
1oz Lime juice
.5oz Simple syrup
2oz Ginger beer (can substitute ginger ale)
Shake all ingredients besides ginger beer/ale and strain into a Collins glass over cubed ice. Top with ginger beer or ginger ale.
BAM (punch; official tour cocktail)
2oz D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac
1oz lemon juice
1oz pineapple juice
.75oz simple syrup
Shake all ingredients with ice; strain over fresh ice in rocks glass and garnish with pineapple wedge in addition to any other fruit garnish available (the more the merrier when it comes to punch). This recipe can be scaled up to serve in large format.