In 1981, Ansley Coale was driving outside San Franscisco when he picked up a hitch-hiker with an interesting tale. His name was Hubert Germain-Robin, heir to a cognac-distilling family that had been in business since 1782. Sadly, Germain-Robin’s family business had been bought out by a large corporation and the traditional distilling techniques lost with increased production demands. Thus began a friendship and a business, starting with Germain-Robin finding an antique cognac still and shipping it to Coale’s Mendocino County ranch. Instead of using traditional acidic wines, they experimented with Pinot Noir blends and the result has been award-winning brandies that are still distilled and blended personally by Hubert Germain-Robin himself. The Anno Domini is a lush honey-dark hue, with rich notes of vanilla and cream sherry. A favorite of late President Ronald Reagan, this “Best Of” has been ranked as one of the greatest spirits of all time.

www.germain-robin.com