-
Delord Armagnac 25 Year
Distiller Score 95
Bold but not lacking in subtlety, the Delord 25 year Armagnac is a great example of what armagnac should be! The nose is dense and woody with notes of orange, prune, allspice and dried flowers. The palate picks up where the aromatics left off with lush fruit. Flavors of peach, dates, orange, bananas and cherry round things off. This spirit is big, playful, and aromatic and wood pervades everything here in the best way possible.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
-
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
-
Christian Drouin VSOP Calvados
Distiller Score 94
Exuding warm spice, lightly caramelized sugar, and fresh apple peel, Christian Drouin VSOP Calvados checks all the classic cider brandy boxes and more. Sweet baked pear, cardamom, and warming butter round out the middle, with faint licorice and clove on the end balancing out what is otherwise a jubilantly hedonistic flavor profile.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
-
Tariquet Bas-Armagnac XO
Distiller Score 89
There's still a little dried fruit lurking on the aroma, but the wood and spice notes take over with that same hint of licorice found in the VSOP bottling. The Armagnac has a medium-rich body and the brandy has enough of a sweetness to carry you to through the mid-palate, but doesn't take over and hide the other characters in the brandy. The woody flavors come through at the end creating a dry, but not abrupt, finish.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
-
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
-
Copper & Kings Cr&ftwerk Sierra Nevada
Distiller Score 81
The nose offers grapy and fruity notes, some light chocolate, and a touch of spice. Palate is quite soft upfront and somewhat one note with oak and a grassy-herbal profile. Astringent. Big spice comes in on the finish, with dry oak and cedar, along with black pepper. Finish is long, and turns bitter, with cocoa lurking behind. Nose was exciting and then the palate disappointed.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Copper & Kings American Brandy Finished in Peerless Rye Whiskey Barrels
Distiller Score 87
The nose showcases a strong licorice note, with raisins, prunes and peppermint. The palate starts perfumed and floral with chrysanthemum bud and potpourri, and also offers dried apricots, walnuts and dark chocolate. The finish is moderate in length and both spicy, with black pepper, cloves and oak, as well as herbal, with cilantro and coriander. Final notes include a touch of rye alongside bitter burnt lemon peel.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Copper & Kings 3 Marlenas Apple Brandy
Distiller Score 90
Bright and floral nose, with honey, McIntosh apples, toffee, and butterscotch. A creamy palate shifts to baked apples with oak, black pepper and spice, tequila and agave, and a slight buttery riff. The finish intermingles floral notes with a citrus zestiness of orange peels, smoke, and closing vegetal notes with aged tequila.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
Christian Drouin XO Calvados
Distiller Score 90
The influence of cognac and sherry casks here is almost unmistakable, but adds a welcome aromatic signature. The nutty, saline and sea-breeze character form a nice counterpoint to the dense, vivid, ripe apple component. This has clearly gained depth and complexity with age, but it has not fallen into the trap of becoming too oxidative or overwhelmed by wood.
Reviewed by Duncan McRoberts
-
Pellehaut 1989 Armagnac Ténarèze
Distiller Score 89
This unadulterated brandy sparkles in the glass with a vibrant red/orange hue. The aromatics are typical ugni blanc, that is: candied citrus, baked almond, and white flower. At a wise 24 years of age the armagnac has mature oaky flavors, but also a youthful kick absent in some of Pellehaut's older vintages. (This is probably a result of the robust 49.9 degrees of alcohol.) Recommended as a great value in brown spirits, but not for the meek. Think more Booker's than Basil's. In a world where 20 year single malt has crossed into triple-digit pricing and similarly aged American whiskey is a memory, we should be thankful for the Gascognian patience with these bottles.
Reviewed by John Rankin
-
Copper & Kings Cr&ftwerk Oskar Blues
Distiller Score 83
The nose is hoppy, floral and fragrant, with citrus zest, hay, and spicy notes. The palate showcases oak with toffee, and malty sweetness. It's rich upfront, then turns dry on the back palate and finish. Oily. Finish carries through from the nose, with zesty, hoppy and floral notes. Turns bitter and astringent at its close, leaving the tongue tingling and a remaining bitterness. Of the series, the most beer-heavy influence. Ice softens and lightens the profile substantially.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
-
D'USSÉ VSOP Cognac
Distiller Score 81
The nose is dry, spicy and woody, with lurking layers of sweet, ripe red fruits, and floral honey. Find a smooth palate, with rich notes of caramel and honey, along with cinnamon and more oaky spice. Black pepper, baking spices and more oak all come back on the finish, along with a fainter background note of honey.
Reviewed by Jake Emen