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Soberano Solera Brandy de Jerez
Distiller Score 87
Roasted coffee and toffee emanates from the glass and washes over the palate. Cashews, marzipan and caramel add a chewy richness. This is all brought together with cinnamon spice, pear, orange rind, and a hint of cigar-box tobacco aromas, heading off into a slightly hot finish.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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BarSol Primero Pisco Quebranta
Distiller Score 83
Bold fruit aromas introduce this forceful but stylish pisco, with rosehip, lime blossom, dried apricot, and raspberry giving the nose plenty to feast on. Full-bodied and potent on the palate with a nice glycerine-led mouthfeel. Clearly freshness and exuberance was what they were going for, rather than detail or refinement. A faint musty or farmyard aroma emerges with some time in the glass and the fruit turns a little bitter on the end.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
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Schoharie Eau-de-Vie de Pomme
Distiller Score 88
This unaged cider brandy shows wonderful transparency and a delightfully balanced texture. It emphasizes pure, delicate fruit and leafy forest air aromatics in contrast with some of the heavier, waxier European style eaux-de-vie.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
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E&J VSOP Brandy
Distiller Score 74
Slightly fewer primary fruits found like in the E & J VS, but the fruit is still there with a focus on cherry and pear. Violets are also found. As you taste the full-bodied brandy, you'll taste a moderately sweet spirit. Some vanilla cream is there and the liquid itself is much like you'd find in a chocolate covered cherry filled with booze. Not much length on the finish, but it's alright. Perhaps you should try it poured in Cherry Dr. Pepper.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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E&J VS Brandy
Distiller Score 72
Lots of fruit on the aroma, but it's not so certain that grapes are the focus. Pineapple, peaches, and cherries come to mind. Fairly full on the palate, the young fruit notes continue to dominate. A small amount of barrel spice and vanilla like you would find in a bourbon are found, but the fruit is the star.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Caravedo Pisco Puro Quebranta
Distiller Score 88
The aroma is clean and clear with a summer salad of pears and grapes (with the skins), edible flowers, and microgreens. These flavors continue as you taste with just enough of a sweetness and oiliness to help cushion the brandy on your palate. The finish is slightly bittersweet with a slight spiced quality that makes your mouth water.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Santiago Queirolo Quebranta Pisco
Distiller Score 84
This is a fairly neutral pisco (not too surprising as it is made with a non-aromatic grape varietal) with the aroma coming off like a mix between new make whiskey and a pisco. There's a slight musky aroma, but it is only a slight one. A fair amount of green herbs comes off the aroma as well. The pisco is medium-full on the palate and is more about green grape skins and just enough sweetness to round it off. The finish is bittersweet and very lightly nutty. Pleasant enough, though.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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BarSol Acholado Pisco
Distiller Score 89
The bouquet of orange blossoms, fresh strawberries, jasmine, and candied citrus peel is difficult to resist, making one wonder whether one is smelling a brandy or some novel recipe of Turkish delight. But this is indeed a spirit, and quite a pretty one; the palate continues our journey through the confectioners' flavor basket, rounding out the finish with dashes of oolong tea, aniseed, and candied violet.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
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Santiago Queirolo Acholado Pisco
Distiller Score 87
This is a pisco you really have to spend some time with in order for the aromas and flavors to reveal themselves. Once you do, the fruit aromas (peach, apricot, green grapes) begin to come out. The pisco is soft on your palate and clean with a little herb flavor (think refreshing green herbs rather than dried, twiggy herbs). This would be best enjoyed at cellar room temperature so that the nuanced aromas and flavors can be enjoyed.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Laird's Straight Applejack 86
Distiller Score 85
Clear-as-a-bell tart apple juice, warming cinnamon, and a touch of barrel smoke. The taste is sweet/tart and is full of baked apples. There is a spicy bite on the finish. Great value.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Maraska Kosher Sljivovica
Distiller Score 88
Slivovitz, traditionally long on character and short on finesse shows an abundance of delicate aromatics here. Fragrances of white flowers, lavender, blueberries, and grape juice seem to dance in the glass. The first sip starts hot, but this eases quickly on the mid palate revealing the floral and fruit aromatics first detected by the nose. The time in barrel adds a hint of butter that takes just a bit of the edge off. Then there is the finish, it goes on and on, pleasantly warm with the delicate fruit and floral flavors lingering to the very end. Drinking this traditionally as a digestif is recommended. Alternatively try in cocktails with honey like the Bee's Knees.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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Calvados Berneroy VSOP
Distiller Score 90
Deep gold in color this Calvados has an intense nose that instantly transports you to the barrel room in Normandy with hints of forest floor and fruit notes of cherry, poached pears and, of course, baked apples. Aromatics continue with hints of Sauternes, mushrooms and honey. The complexity will keep you returning to the glass to decipher more. On the palate, a welcome heat is balanced with the sweet, waxy apple flavors and spices not noticed on the nose of cinnamon, allspice, and vanilla. The brandy feels like satin and finishes long and lux, with baked apple skin hanging on until the very end. Drink as they do in Normandy; neat, after dinner.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle