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Martell Cordon Bleu Cognac
Distiller Score 91
Find a big, complex nose, with candied fruits, along with oak and a light spiciness, as well as dark chocolate and a deep nuttiness. The palate is smooth and rich, big with raisins and red fruits before moving into oak and faint baking spices which provide a bit of depth. Find almonds and marzipan on a warming finish, along with cinnamon and light pepper.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Delamain Vesper XO Grande Champagne Cognac
Distiller Score 92
The nose is ripe with dried fruit, ripe banana, baking spices and forest floor. On the palate it's rich almost to the point of being chewy and is fairly tannic. The flavors consist of maple, candy apple, lemon peel, fresh figs and burnt sugar. An intense but fairly approachable XO cognac with all of the density and depth you would expect.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Maison Surrenne Distillerie Galtaud Borderies
Distiller Score 91
An enchanting and complex nose offers prunes, dark chocolate, citrus peel, and spicy oak. On the silky palate you'll find trail mix with hazelnuts and raisins, along with cocoa powder and coffee grounds, grapes, blackberries, a dash of tropical fruits, and a floral influence dominated by violets. The quick finish is rich and jammy with sugary dried fruits.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Maison Surrenne Ancienne Distillery Petite Champagne Cognac
Distiller Score 89
Fresh and floral and fruity notes, specifically peach and green grapes, are found on the nose. Barrel spices are of low-intensity, but present to help add dimension to the brandy. Full, soft, and sweet on your palate, those same initial fruit notes continue with a little orange zest and white chocolate. Only slightly bitter on the finish, this would be well suited for a brandy cocktail or served with a soft cheese plate due to its fruit factor.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Hennessy Master Blender's Selection Nº 4
Distiller Score 87
The nose is zesty and filled with orange peel, followed by sugar-dusted grapes and potpourri with violets. The palate offers berries and dried apricots upfront, followed by cacao and hazelnuts, and on the back end, sandalwood, cedar, and black tea. The finish is soft and short with orange blossom water, clementines, tannic oak, and cinnamon.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Delamain Pale & Dry XO Cognac
Distiller Score 90
Orange-spiced tea, fresh-cut apples, and juicy cherries are first to appear on the nose though the intensity of the aromas doesn't punch you in the face. The palate is similar, but has an integrated spice factor that matches the level of the fruit. As the name states, the finish is dry but not overtly tannic and tight. There's a finesse to the cognac and for its age, has a solid length to the finish.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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ABK6 XO Family Reserve Cognac
Distiller Score 92
Aromas of spice road cardamom, cinnamon and clove waft out of the glass containing this rich, amber-colored Cognac. Tart, dry fruits (dates, apricot, fig) enter the palate, which has a toffee richness. The long finish is toasty and warming, with a nice hit of rancio at the end.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Maxime Trijol XO Cognac
Distiller Score 86
Wood spices and waxy fruit, more in the berry family, are found on the nose. The palate is full of dried fruits like raisins and prunes along with a touch of coffee. Dark spiced caramel is present with those dried fruits on the finish which is long-lasting.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Bache-Gabrielsen Sérénité Extra Grande Champagne Cognac
Distiller Score 97
The nose is surprisingly fresh, with rosy floral essences and aromas of earth and ripe fruit. These aromas are reflected on the palate, which gives off generous flavors of ripe red apple, raspberries, and pear. A yeasty, buttery pastry-nuance comes in after a few sips, with rounded notes of vanilla, cashew, walnut and sandalwood that fan out into a long, satisfying finish. For one so mature, this cognac tastes surprisingly youthful and vibrant, yet very elegant and refined.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Courvoisier XO Cognac
Distiller Score 90
The influence of the Borderies shines through on the nose, with a honeyed floral bouquet highlighted by violets. The palate is velvety, and somewhat oily, with candied orange peel, vanilla, and blackberries, shifting towards the back with bitter notes of cacao and pistachio shells. The finish offers menthol and spicy, astringent oak, along with dark chocolate-covered raspberries.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Pierre Ferrand Réserve Double Cask Cognac
Distiller Score 90
Lots of fresh stone fruits such as apricots and plums on both the aroma and palate along with white grapes. The French barrel spices make an appearance bringing a bit of complexity to the cognac, but play a minor role. If you are familiar with their previous Réserve, this is quite different with the dessert wine finish really shining through here. The finish is sweet/tart with that touch of gentle barrel spices and the fruit factor is still in play. The price point doesn't really lend this to cocktail use, so sip after dinner or with the cheese course.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Cognac Park XO Traditional Reserve
Distiller Score 92
Park Cognac's XO is deep and complex, leading with notes of dark chocolate, hazelnut, and dark plums. Vanilla, oak, and hazelnut persist on a long-lasting finish. It's a decadent, rich cognac made for savoring slowly.
Reviewed by Jacob Grier