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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
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Camus VSOP Borderies Cognac (2014 Limited Release)
Distiller Score 89
Aromas of pear and caramel with nuances of cinnamon and vanilla are your first contact with this unique cognac. It comes alive with the first taste, assertive, off-dry and rich with more cinnamon, honey and toasted bread. Finishes long, warm and with a touch of barrel tannins. Overall quite delicious though not very complex.
Reviewed by Kelley Slagle
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HINE Rare VSOP Cognac
Distiller Score 90
Heavy vanilla and jasmine characterize the nose before leading into light and sweet oaky tones on the palate. The flavors of fig and prune provide subtle tones to the profile before distinct tones of baking spices leave their mark on the finish.
Reviewed by Katrina Niemisto
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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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Hennessy Master Blender's Selection N° 2
Distiller Score 85
Bracing and spicy nose rather than the usual mellow cognac invitation - lots of cinnamon, nutmeg, vanilla and other new oak spices. The palate's much the same with the addition of a tasty raisin and date confection . Assertively tannic and at the finish lots of peppery spiciness and bittersweet oakiness.
Reviewed by Jack Robertiello
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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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Pierre Ferrand Reserve Cognac
Distiller Score 90
The nose is full of dark wood and walnut husks with the fruit notes more about apple skins than the ripe fruit. The cognac is clean and bright on the palate with bitter coffee grounds with perhaps a touch of char from the oak. Dark cherries are found on the finish as well.
Reviewed by Stephanie Moreno
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Hardy Legend 1863 Cognac
Distiller Score 91
The nose is an intriguing rich and slightly savory mix of caramel, vanilla, grape jam, clove, and toasted sesame. The medium-rich palate drinks somewhat like a bourbon, with toasted oak flavors, sharp baking spice, and summer berry pie flavors. A warming cappuccino-like element (vanilla, coffee, cinnamon), and earthy hints of sandalwood, lavender, and walnut envelope the flavors into the finish, reminding this is indeed a cognac.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster
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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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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 Paul Giraud Napoleon
Distiller Score 87
Notes of peach, plum, and fresh-from-the-hive honey characterize the nose, which give way to notes of burnt vanilla-sugar and caramel on the tongue. A smooth, warm mouthfeel combines with gentle notes of allspice and clove to give an overall well-balanced delivery.
Reviewed by Katrina Niemisto
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Augier Le Sauvage Cognac
Distiller Score 88
This rich and dense cognac has a lot going on. The nose is all tropical fruits, but on the palate, citrus and stone fruit prevails. Both the pulp and peel of tangerine and grapefruit are present, with a bit of nectarine and plum mixed in. Sharp spices of clove and black pepper add to the woody elements of the mix, and bittersweet chocolate adds an earthy tone. The finish is somewhat drying, though the fresh fruit flavors manage to linger.
Reviewed by Amanda Schuster