Cognac Summit targets taste

The fourth International Cognac Summit (ICS) will focus on the effect of cognac on the palate.

ICS 2011 runs from Jan 23-26 and will challenge the tasting skills of bartenders, sommeliers and spirits experts.

The ‘can you measure the pleasure’ theme follows the ‘bringing classic cognac cocktails into the 21st century’ focus in 2010, the ‘cognac aroma wheel’ in 2009 and the ‘summit cocktail’ in 2008.

Jérôme Durand, head of marketing and communication at the Bureau National Interprofessionnel du cognac organisers of the ICS – said: “After looking at cognac on the nose with the development of the aroma wheel, it’s logical to focus now on cognac on the palate.

“Cognac has a unique and complex taste profile and being able to look at all aspects of this with some of the best tasters around today, will, I am certain, be as fascinating and enriching experience as our previous summits have been.”

Among the guests attending the summit are Thomas Sornicelli, head sommelier at the Ritz, London; Andy Seymour, cocktail consultant at Beverage Alcohol Resource, New-York; Nicolas Peri, barman at the five-star Burgundy hotel in Paris; and Evangelos Pattas, head sommelier at the Délice restaurant in Stuttgart.