Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva Brandy de Jerez

Leather, figs, dark fruits… Tastes like reduced wine, if that makes sense. If you’ve ever drank wine from a Spanish bota, that should give you a sense of what this tastes like. Delicious!

Nose is almost rum-like: toffee, brown sugar, some banana, deep dried fermented grapes and figs with some nuttiness, reminiscent of a fig newton. Texture is thick and smooth, with taste of cocoa-dusted fig newtons battling with rich raisiny sherries. The sensation of the alcohol itself hits late, slowly coating the throat like a rich old-timey cough syrup. Finishes with a touch of mint. Very good! Punches WAAAY above its weight for 40% ABV. I want to drink this when I'm sick. I think it'd do a better job than Robitussin.

Very deep copper color on the pour. The nose is strong with sweet fig and raisin scents. Taste is like the nose but not as sweet, yet sweet enough. Thick mouthfeel and a long finish. Slight sting of alcohol but no effect on the palate. This was my first Spanish brandy and it was very good. As much as I like Cognac, the more robust flavor here is my general preference with liquor in general (compared to lighter flavors). I will try other Spanish brandies hoping for a similar profile.