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Chateau de Montifaud Napoléon Fine Petite Champagne
Distiller Score 92
The nose offers floral notes, with vanilla, plum, raisins, and honey. The palate is smooth, and layered but cohesive, with strands of honeyed fruits, vanillins, and oak. A moderate length finish begins with rich crème brûlée and brown sugar, along with dark red fruits and maple syrup. This is followed by a spicy, oaky side with touches of black pepper comes on at the tail end.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Martell VS Single Distillery
Distiller Score 87
A rich fruitiness shows on the nose highlighted by raspberries along with herbal and grassy notes which work together for a somewhat vermouth-like aroma. An oily palate at first shows more fruits, here with canned fruit syrup, tart cherries, raspberries and blackberries, as well as chocolate and nuttiness. Finish is short and smooth with oak and spice taking their turn in front of that distinct raspberry note.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal Cognac
Distiller Score 90
Rich fruit, oak, and hints of butterscotch are found on the nose with a soft, sweetness on the initial entry to the palate. Notes of dried plum, raisins and caramels start things off. As the spirit moves off the palate, it becomes drier, with white pepper, oak, and some vanilla along with a lightly floral note. The finish is satisfying and generous, with oak, raisin, hazelnut and dark chocolate flavors evident.
Reviewed by Distiller Staff
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H by HINE VSOP Cognac
Distiller Score 86
The nose is fresh and fruity with a youthful and lively aroma. Peaches, apricots, white grape juice and vibrant floral notes are found on both the nose and palate. Soft wood spices and just a gentle prickle of cinnamon along with a subtle nutty quality provide a modest depth to the cognac. As it is young, the finish is short, but that is to be expected. This is a solid cognac for cocktail use.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Pierre Ferrand Ambre Cognac
Distiller Score 89
A fair amount of apricot and pear aromas with some orange peel thrown in for good measure. Mild woody notes appear with just a dash of savory spices and black tea. The cognac continues on the palate with the fruit notes but there's a waxy component as well. The finish is more bittersweet and finishes with a slight almond note.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Paul Beau VS Grande Champagne Cognac
Distiller Score 85
This is a great value for a young cognac. Instead of heavy oak and caramel tones, this brandy has light, summer honey and floral aromatics. The palate is clean, and belies a pleasant, creamy character. Delicious on its own in a refreshing way, but this is also priced fairly for outrageous Sidecar and Sazerac cocktails.
Reviewed by John Rankin
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Hennessy VS Cognac
Distiller Score 78
The primary fruit factor is huge on the aroma and shows very little wood or spice factor. The youth of the brandy shows on the palate again with its brightness and fruit-juice flavors. There is little depth and complexity to the cognac, and this is not likely one you will be sipping to contemplate its merits. Which is not to say that it's poorly made. It's just not one to get cerebral with; this is one you want to have in your mixed drinks.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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ABK6 VSOP Single Estate Cognac
Distiller Score 90
This is an impressively well-balanced cognac for one in this age category. There is a pleasant aroma of baking pastry, vanilla, and toasty oak upon the nose. On the palate, blood orange and berry jam with a sprinkling of clove, cedar and pine cone are discovered. This light-bodied brandy is very easy to sip neat and would easily stand up to cocktails calling for brandy.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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Rémy Martin VSOP Cognac
Distiller Score 83
Quite a bit of fruit and floral notes on the nose, which comes as no surprise given its age, or lack thereof. A touch of woody aromas and barrel spices, but predominantly focused on the sweet young fruit. The cognac starts off sweet and round, but does finish on the dry and spicy side and a touch boozy. This is one that would do just fine in a mixed drink or bringing to a holiday party to jump-start winter punches and egg nogs.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Pierre Ferrand Original Formula 1840 Cognac
Distiller Score 85
The aromas are a pleasant mix without one dominating the other of ripe pears, wax, green grapes, and delicate floral notes. These notes don't differ much on the palate but there are added elements of mint and crushed peanuts on its creamy texture. Though this isn't really designed as a sipping cognac, you could certainly do worse.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Godet VS Cognac
Distiller Score 80
There's a good mixture of orchard fruits and barrel spices on the nose with a little hint of dried herbs. The palate is straight forward with the fruit becoming a little waxy and the barrel spices taking over. The finish shows a little dark chocolate and dried berries with vanilla sprinkled on top.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Maxime Trijol VSOP Cognac
Distiller Score 81
The nose leans heavily on stone fruits like apricots and white peaches along with green grapes and orange peel. The cognac is soft and sweet on your tongue with only a slight tannic note from the wood aging. Those same stone fruits, only dried, appear on the finish which is warming and not bitter.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno