E&J XO Brandy

A great big step in the right direction. Additional aging has tamed the burn (still modestly present after a sip) and added potent amounts of aroma (maple, warm brown sugar, some dried fruit and vanilla) and flavor (I get caramel upfront and fig/honey on the backside). It's a pleasant sipper, though not at all the most complex. Has become a perennial winter favorite. Well packaged and CHEAP, just $8.20 here for 375 mL. I would love to see E&J offer a 10-12 year "ultrapremium" brandy to round out their offerings, just like Korbel is missing an XO (but has a 12 year aged brandy). But this E&J XO deserves major credit for bringing some substance to the rest of the brandy line.

I give this 5 stars for one reason... I've never had a bottle of liquor intrigue me more for $14.99. There is a ton of depth to this and it is very good!

Excellent for the price; I paid $10 and it’s better than Hennessy’s low offering, so I’m sold. The nose is sweet with brown sugar, raisins and pears, which persist on the palate with maple and prune. A touch of wood peeks in on the finish with a dry raisin taste. And at mixing price, I can say it mixes pretty well too. Inoffensive and on the sweet side, with no cheap alcohol taste. A go-to for a mixing brandy.