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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
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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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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
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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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Dutch's Spirits Peach Brandy
Distiller Score 85
This traditional peach brandy will not easily be confused with the more common peach flavored brandy. Aromas of almonds, dried peaches, peach pits and raisins are wrapped in a delicate layer of vanilla, cedar and a hint of nutmeg. On the palate, the flavors are true to the nose with a pleasant heat and the addition of honey, roasted peaches and baking spices. Finishes long and warm with notes of peach and vanilla that linger to the end. Restrained barrel aging allows the base spirit to shine through resulting in a balanced spirit worthy of drinking neat or in a well-crafted cocktail.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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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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Po' di Poli Elegante Grappa
Distiller Score 91
A great “beginner” grappa that’s not just for beginners. Not to say that it is boring or simplistic because it is far from that. It is however super easy to enjoy and difficult to find fault with. The nose is classic but soft with notes of burnt walnut, tons of dried fruit, grape stems and flowers. The palate is all of the aforementioned with the addition of cedar, dried leather and dried guava. It is everything you could want from a grappa but at 40% abv it steers clear of controversy.
Reviewed by Omari Wheat
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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
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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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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 Borderies Single Vineyard
Distiller Score 87
Find a floral nose, with citrus zest as well as red wine, and a distinctive jammy side, think apricot jam and grape jelly. The palate quickly shifts drier, offering spice and oak, and red fruits. There's brown sugar, cinnamon and baking spices on the finish, light vanilla, and then finally some of that early fruitiness returns. The nose tantalizes but the palate doesn't match that depth.
Reviewed by Jake Emen
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Agnesi 1799 Brandy
Distiller Score 89
The nose offers a walk through a dewy, grassy meadow, with honey, sugar-coated grapes, and dried fruits. The palate shows more honey along with floral notes and a basket of fruits inducing plums, redcurrants, and lingonberries, as well as leather and dark chocolate. A flowery finish offers sweet agave syrup and oak.
Reviewed by Jake Emen