Topic: Cognac

The final round of associate executive producer credits includes a story about a "copy that" obsessed employee at Total Wine. The hosts thank donors for their "time, talent, and treasure," specifically noting several $57 donations in honor of Adam Curry's 57th birthday. The segment concludes the first half of the show's donor acknowledgments.

A story is shared about a massive fire at a Martel Cognac warehouse in the 1970s that turned a local river into burning alcohol. The hosts also discuss the "Time, Talent, and Treasure" slogan, noting its origins in the church and its alignment with the "Value for Value" model.

A discussion about high-end spirits focuses on a 1952 vintage Armagnac consumed at a recent party. The hosts explain that pure distillation in French products often results in fewer hangovers because they lack "fusel oils"—impurities like butyl and propyl alcohol found in lower-quality spirits. The conversation covers the social and physical effects of aged brandy compared to other alcohols like scotch.

John C. Dvorak provides specific shopping tips for Costco members, highlighting a high-quality Malbec and a "Cote Mas" bistro wine. He specifically recommends the Frappin Chateau Fontpinot XO cognac, noting it is significantly underpriced at Costco compared to other retailers.

The hosts thank Executive Producer Andrew Coppiquen, a criminal defense attorney from Los Angeles, for his $500 donation. Coppiquen shared details of meeting John Dvorak at a local meetup and gifting him a bottle of Park XO cognac. He requested a "de-douching" after realizing he had failed to donate for years despite being a long-time listener. The segment includes his anecdotes about dining with fellow listeners and navigating LA traffic.

Under the proposed EU association agreement, Ukraine would be forced to phase out the use of protected European brand names like Champagne, Cognac, and Feta. Ukrainian producers would have 10 years to stop using wine-related terms and 7 years for cheese names like Parmigiano Reggiano. The agreement also prohibits the interruption of energy transit through Ukrainian pipelines.

The annual Bilderberg meeting has reportedly begun in Athens, Greece. Shifting to "Wine and Food News," Dvorak provides a glowing review of Park Cognac, an XO cognac produced by Dominic Park. He recommends it as a high-quality, affordable alternative to more expensive brands.

During the Rubicon dinner, the pair ordered a 1900 vintage Armagnac, which led to a dispute with the staff regarding its authenticity. Despite the waiter's claims that the date referred to a solera system, the bottle label confirmed it was distilled in 1900. The segment concludes with a complaint about the waiter pouring the final remnants of the bottle into only one of their glasses.