The midpalate is a continuation of many of the flavors introduced in the opening, with raisin and dried apricot most pronounced. Denoting “vodka exceptionelle”, the VX has been developed by François Thibault, the creator of Grey Goose who began his career as a cellar master for wineries and cognac distilleries in the region.

Bacardi’s Grey Goose is one of those brands that’s really trying to navigate these changing vodka waters. Each batch of Grey Goose® vodka begins with soft winter wheat grown on farms in and around the fertile Picardy region of northern France. This is an ultra premium expression from Grey Goose Vodka, but this time it’s got the added twist of having ‘precious drops of cognac’ combined.

Grey Goose VX debuts this month in European Travel Retail starting with Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport and then expands to Canada and the US in September of 2014. While the bottle looks stunning, it’s a hefty bottle and completely unyielding to pour from, making spills almost a guaranteed occurrence. This new expression combines both the famous taste of Grey Goose vodka with cognac from the premier cru region of Grande Champagne. And make no mistake, this isn't a fly by night flavored spirit, but rather a high quality vodka housed in a beautiful bottle, that stands apart thanks to the small cognac influence, while remaining delicately balanced and unique.

The Grey Goose VX bottle does disclose that it’s a blend of 95% Vodka and 5% Cognac, the same ratio that’s common with spirit whiskey. Now that the flavored vodka boom is clearly ending, vodka companies are scrambling to figure out ways to hold on to their growth and remain relevant in a marketplace that is increasingly shifting towards whiskey. The VX in the name stands for ‘Vodka Exceptionelle, and it’s interesting that the makers recommend drinking it on the rocks, from a balloon brandy glass for the best taste experience. Using only the highest quality of ingredients, A truly unique spirit which is best enjoyed on the rocks so that the full and complex flavour can be fully appreciated.

As with the other Grey Goose drinks, Thibault, the master distiller, controls and oversees every step from field to bottle. It was created by Maître de Chais François Thibault as a synthesis of his manufacturing career, resulting in an impeccable blend of 95% vodka with a 5% cognac finish. GREY GOOSE Maître de Chai François Thibault insists on using only the highest-grade wheat, the same wheat used in the finest French breads and pastries.

In creating Grey Goose VX, I wanted to capture the aromatic notes of a precious cognac, bringing its delicate essence of orchard fruits, plum, apricot and the mild flavours of wild honey to the remarkable character of Grey Goose vodka. The finish for Grey Goose VX is the most vodka-like part of the taste experience and most representative of the traditional Grey Goose Vodka, with light wheat notes tapering to a dry finish. Part of this sharp decline is attributed to Grey Goose’s decision to not chase the flavor trend too hard, but a more significant factor was unexpected competition from non-premium brands like Tito’s Vodka and Deep Eddy’s Vodka, which took significant share away from premium players like Grey Goose.It’s been created by Francois Thibault, who has used his experience as a cognac Maitre de Chai to design this new expression.