```html ``` 🥃 National Cognac Day – 4th June (US) Skip to main content

All I Have Is Yours, Lord: A Reflection on Grace and Gratitude

THE CRA PERSPECTIVE All I Have Is Yours, Lord A reflection on grace, gratitude, humility and the beauty of surrender What do I have that I did not receive? What can I truly claim as mine apart from grace? There are moments when we need to pause and look beyond our achievements, possessions, abilities and ambitions. We may work hard for what we accomplish, make sacrifices for our families and spend years developing our talents. Yet, beneath every achievement lies a deeper truth: life itself is a gift. Our breath, our opportunities, our strength, our relationships and even the ability to begin again are blessings we often take for granted. Gratitude begins when we recognise that we are not the sole authors of everything good in our lives. The prayer “All I Have Is Yours, Lord” expresses a heart that no longer wishes to live only for possession, recognition or personal glory. It is the quiet acknowledgement that everything entr...
Post a Comment

🥃 National Cognac Day – 4th June (US)

🥃 National Cognac Day – 4th June (US) 

A toast to the finest French brandy — aged to perfection

4th June National Cognac Day cognac French brandy spirits VSOP XO

Every year on 4th June, the United States celebrates National Cognac Day — a day dedicated to appreciating the rich, complex, and elegant French brandy known as cognac. Produced in the Cognac region of southwestern France, this double-distilled wine spirit is aged in French oak barrels and enjoyed worldwide.

Cognac has a long history dating back to the 16th century. It was first distilled by Dutch traders seeking to preserve wine for long sea voyages. Today, it's a symbol of sophistication — enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in classic cocktails like the Sidecar or French 75.

🥃 What Is Cognac?

  • 🍇 Origin — Must be produced in the Cognac region (Charente, France).
  • 🍷 Base — Distilled from white wine (Ugni Blanc grapes).
  • ⚗️ Double distillation — In copper pot stills (Charentais method).
  • 🪵 Aged in French oak — For at least 2 years (minimum).

📜 Cognac Aging Classifications

  • 🌟 VS (Very Special) — Aged at least 2 years.
  • 🌟 VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) — Aged at least 4 years.
  • 🌟 Napoléon — Aged at least 6 years.
  • 🌟 XO (Extra Old) — Aged at least 10 years (recently updated from 6).
  • 🌟 Hors d'Âge — Beyond age classification (often 20+ years).

🍇 The Cognac Region

  • 🇫🇷 Six crus (growing areas) — Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois, Bons Bois, Bois Ordinaires.
  • 🏆 Grande Champagne — Premier cru, finest eaux‑de‑vie.
  • 🌍 Protected designation — Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée (AOC) since 1936.

🥃 How to Enjoy Cognac

  • 🍷 Neat — Room temperature in a tulip glass.
  • 🧊 On the rocks — Over a large ice cube.
  • 🍹 In cocktails — Sidecar, French 75, Sazerac, Vieux Carré.
  • ☕ With coffee or dessert — After‑dinner treat.

🏆 Famous Cognac Houses

  • 🥃 Hennessy — World's largest cognac producer.
  • 🥃 Rémy Martin — Known for VSOP and Louis XIII.
  • 🥃 Martell — Oldest of the major cognac houses (1715).
  • 🥃 Courvoisier — "The Napoleon of Cognacs."
  • 🥃 Louis XIII — Ultra‑premium (over $2,000 per bottle).

🎉 How to Celebrate

  • 🥃 Pour a glass of cognac — Try a new VSOP or XO.
  • 🍹 Make a cognac cocktail — Sidecar: 2 oz cognac, ¾ oz orange liqueur, ¾ oz lemon juice.
  • 📖 Learn about cognac history — From Dutch traders to modern luxury.
  • 📸 Share your cognac moment — Use #NationalCognacDay.
  • 🤝 Host a tasting — Compare VS, VSOP, and XO.

🧠 Fun Cognac Facts

  • 🍇 1 liter of cognac — Requires 7–10 liters of wine.
  • 🪵 Oak barrels — Used only once (to avoid over‑tannin).
  • 🌍 90% of cognac — Is exported outside France (especially Asia).
  • 🏆 Louis XIII — Contains eaux‑de‑vie aged up to 100 years.

🌍 Cognac Around the World

  • 🇺🇸 USA — Largest cognac market (by volume).
  • 🇨🇳 China — Fastest‑growing cognac market (luxury preference).
  • 🇫🇷 France — Home of cognac, but consumption is lower than export.

🎨 Art & Cognac

Cognac decanters are often works of art — crystal bottles (Baccarat) and sculptural designs. Vintage cognac posters (Art Nouveau, Art Deco) are collectible. The spirit itself is celebrated in film, literature, and luxury advertising.

🧭 A Sophisticated Message

On this 4th June, raise a glass of cognac — slowly, with appreciation. Let the warmth, oak, and fruit notes remind you of craftsmanship, patience, and tradition. Cognac is not just a drink — it's liquid history. Santé! 🥃

🥃 Age is just a number — except when it comes to cognac. 🥃

🌿 Read more 👉 CRA Arts Blog
🎨 Shutterstock: craarts
▶️ YouTube: CRA Arts Channel

Labels:

Comments

Post a Comment

Most visited

THE POWER OF EYE CONTACT : What Your Eyes Communicate Before You Speak

THE CRA PERSPECTIVE ✦ COMMUNICATION • BODY LANGUAGE • HUMAN PSYCHOLOGY THE POWER OF EYE CONTACT What Your Eyes Communicate Before You Speak Explore the different types of eye contact, the meanings of a glance, stare and glare, and how to use your gaze thoughtfully in interviews, conversations, presentations and everyday life. NOTICE • CONNECT • COMMUNICATE • RESPECT A Look Can Speak Without Words Imagine entering a room where someone looks up, makes brief eye contact and greets you with a natural smile. You may feel acknowledged and welcome before the conversation has even begun. Now imagine someone fixing an unbroken gaze on you, narrowing their eyes and refusing to look away. The same eyes that can communicate attention may now make you feel uncomfortable, challenged or intimidated. What changed? The eyes themselves did not change. The duration of the gaze, facial expression, relationship, situation and surrounding behaviour changed its possible meaning. Eye conta...
Post a Comment
Read more

The Sunk Cost Fallacy: When to Let Go and Move Forward

THE CRA PERSPECTIVE ✦ PSYCHOLOGY • DECISION-MAKING • PERSONAL GROWTH THE SUNK COST FALLACY When Letting Go Becomes the Wisest Decision Why do we continue investing in something that no longer serves us? Explore the psychology of sunk costs, the trap of escalating commitment and a practical way to make better decisions about your future. RECOGNISE • REASSESS • RELEASE • REDIRECT The Question That Can Change Your Next Decision Have you ever continued watching a film you disliked simply because you had already paid for the ticket? Have you spent more money repairing something that might be better replaced? Have you stayed with a course, project or commitment mainly because you had already invested years of effort in it? Perhaps you have told yourself, “I have already come this far. I cannot stop now.” That sentence can be harmless when it encourages perseverance through a temporary difficulty. But it can become costly when it prevents you from recognising that circum...
Post a Comment
Read more

The ABC of Corporate Life: Appearance, Behaviour and Communication

THE CRA PERSPECTIVE ✦ CORPORATE LIFE • LEADERSHIP • MANAGEMENT THE ABC OF CORPORATE LIFE Appearance • Behaviour • Communication Three everyday principles that shape professional impressions, workplace relationships, leadership effectiveness and career growth. PRESENT YOURSELF WELL • ACT WITH INTEGRITY • COMMUNICATE WITH PURPOSE What Makes a Professional Stand Out? Why do some people create a positive impression when they enter a workplace? Why do certain managers earn the trust of their teams, while others struggle to gain cooperation despite holding positions of authority? Professional success depends on many factors, including competence, experience, judgement, integrity and opportunity. Yet three everyday elements strongly influence how people experience us at work: how we present ourselves, how we behave and how we communicate. These principles can be expressed through a simple framework: the ABC of Corporate Life. A — APPEARANCE How you present yourself p...
Post a Comment
Read more