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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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Lark Riviere du Nord XO
Distiller Score 90
The brandy is reminiscent of early morning bushland dew, with slight eucalyptus and bush wood aromas rising through softly. Notes of wood spice and licorice spill from the glass with the spices intensifying to a soft fudge. On the palate, the brandy turns fresh and spicy, and the fudge has turns to sugared sweetness hiding behind a curtain of soft fruits. If agitated, the wood builds to a crescendo before settling back down into a leather back smoking chair. The finish is long and every now and then the tongue will buzz as a new spices like cardamom, vanilla pods, cinnamon or saffron run across the top before settling down to rest.
Reviewed by Marcus Parmenter
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Baron Gaston Legrand Bas Armagnac 1984
Distiller Score 96
Roasted pecan and hazelnut, tarte tatin, lemon peel, herbs, and cigar-locker notes appear on the bouquet. The mouthfeel is rich and creamy with flavors of hazelnut, marzipan, oak, dried apples, cedar, and tea spices to complement clover honey, and orange blossom notes. The finish is long and satisfying, and bring cinnamon, a bit of cedar, and some more cigar notes.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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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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Clear Creek Douglas Fir Brandy
Distiller Score 90
Because a maceration is done after distillation, expect to see a little sediment in the bottle. As advertised, the aroma of Clear Creek Douglas Fir Brandy is full of pine and has you thinking of a winter wonderland. The fruit in the brandy is a nice foil to help balance the herbal and woody notes. There's a nice mint taste to the finish. If you are a gin or absinthe drinker, make sure to give this a try. Bottled at 94 proof, it does finish a little hot.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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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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Reisetbauer Carrot Eau-de-Vie
Distiller Score 96
Raw carrots, roasted carrots, steamed carrots--all of these aromas and tastes come to mind upon encountering this spirit. You'll find this "carrot-ness" rounded out by fennel greens, hops, and burnt walnuts. The palate is a bit more decadent with flavors of caramel, clotted cream, vanilla, and deep-roasted carrot drizzled with honey and hazelnuts (though, of course, the spirit is not sweet). This is a truly fascinating product that is worth your attention.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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Copper & Kings Blue Sky Mining Brandy
Distiller Score 90
Tropical fruits lead on the nose with melons and papaya. There's also grape jelly, rose water, raspberries and blackberries, and blooming flowers. The palate is rich and fruity, with more of those wine and jammy notes, and the oak making its presence felt with a drier, spicier background. A long, smooth finish shows some heat, with notes of bubblegum, more tropical fruit, and bits of pepper, spice, and oak.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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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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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