Merlet VSOP 750ML is a French cognac blending Fins Bois and Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, bottled at 40% ABV. This expression earned a Gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 90 points from Wine Enthusiast, reflecting the depth of craft behind a family distillery that spent over 160 years producing cognac for major houses before releasing spirits under its own name.Quick Facts: ABV: 40% (80 proof) | Origin: Cognac, Southwestern France | VSOP (Minimum 4 Years) | Distillery: Merlet & FilsProduction & HeritageMerlet & Fils is based in the village of Saint-Sauvant in the heart of the Cognac region. For over 160 years, the family distilled eaux-de-vie under contract for some of the largest cognac houses in France before launching their own branded cognac in 2010. The VSOP is double-distilled in traditional copper pot stills from Ugni Blanc grapes. The blend draws primarily from Fins Bois crus with a component from Grande Champagne, combining eaux-de-vie ranging from the four-year VSOP minimum up to considerably older spirits. This multi-age, multi-cru approach gives the cognac a balance of youthful fruit and layered maturity that reflects the family's deep knowledge of blending.Tasting NotesAroma: Rich caramel and toasted almond arrive first, followed by delicate white-fleshed fruit and ripe peach. A subtle hint of cocoa powder lingers beneath the fruit as the cognac opens up in the glass.Taste: The entry is round and supple, with intense fruitiness dominating the early palate — peach, dried date, and fig emerge with time and a touch of water. Mid-palate, drying tannins add structure alongside gentle clove heat and a whisper of warmth from the alcohol. The overall impression is svelte and well-integrated.Finish: Long and decidedly fruity, with lingering stone fruit sweetness and a dry cocoa-tinged exhale. The warmth recedes gently, leaving a clean, satisfying close.How to Drink Merlet VSOPNeat or with a few drops of water is the ideal starting point; water opens up the dried fruit and cocoa layers that the higher concentration can initially mask. A single large ice cube works well for warm-weather sipping. For cocktails, Merlet VSOP brings enough fruit-forward character and structure to anchor classic recipes: Sidecar — the peach and caramel notes complement Cointreau and lemon juice without getting lost. Vieux Carré — the Fins Bois fruitiness provides a lighter, brighter counterpoint to the rye and sweet vermouth. Cognac Sour — the round, supple texture creates a silky mouthfeel that egg white and citrus amplify beautifully. Best For Introducing a spirits enthusiast to artisan cognac beyond the major houses After-dinner digestif alongside dessert courses Building a home bar with a versatile, cocktail-friendly VSOP Gifting someone who appreciates understated French craftsmanship Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Merlet VSOP taste like? Merlet VSOP leads with rich caramel, toasted almond, and ripe peach, supported by dried date and fig. The palate is round and fruit-forward with drying tannins, a touch of clove spice, and a long fruity finish.How does Merlet VSOP compare to Martell VSOP? Both are multi-cru VSOP blends with fruit-driven profiles and sit in a similar price tier. Merlet leans more heavily on Fins Bois terroir for fresh, stone-fruit vibrancy, while Martell VSOP draws from Borderies as its signature cru, yielding a slightly softer, more floral character.Is Merlet VSOP good for sipping neat? Yes — its 40% ABV and round, fruit-rich palate make it approachable on its own, and adding a few drops of water reveals additional dried fruit and cocoa complexity noted by Wine Enthusiast.Where is Merlet VSOP made? Merlet VSOP is produced by Merlet & Fils at their distillery in Saint-Sauvant, a village within the Cognac appellation in southwestern France. The eaux-de-vie are sourced primarily from the Fins Bois cru, with a component from Grande Champagne.What foods pair well with Merlet VSOP? Dark chocolate truffles echo its cocoa undertones. Aged Comté cheese matches its caramel richness. Tarte Tatin complements the peach and baked fruit notes. Roasted duck with fig glaze mirrors the dried fruit character. Crème brûlée bridges the caramelized sugar and vanilla notes in the cognac.What sizes does Merlet VSOP come in? The standard offering is a 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available format.Is Merlet VSOP worth the price? Merlet VSOP positions as an accessible, mid-range cognac that over-delivers for its tier, backed by a Gold medal at the 2025 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and 90 points from Wine Enthusiast — credentials that many cognacs at higher price points do not carry.Why Merlet VSOP?Few cognac families can claim 160 years of distilling expertise before ever putting their own name on a bottle. That legacy of contract distillation for major houses gave the Merlet family an unusually deep understanding of blending, and their VSOP is a direct expression of that knowledge. The combination of Fins Bois freshness and Grande Champagne complexity, backed by a Grand Gold at the 2022 San Francisco World Spirits Competition and a follow-up Gold in 2025, marks this as one of the strongest value plays in the VSOP category. For drinkers looking beyond the established marques, Merlet VSOP rewards curiosity with genuine depth.
