Paul Masson VSOP Grande Amber

Ahh, the French champagne... Wait, wrong commercial. The best way to follow up an at-home wine tasting seemed to be cheap cognac, and until I find one, I guess this will do. All joking aside, even for a half bottle, a price of $5 for an 80 proof spirit felt like I was stealing something. I'm not a brandy fan, and I'm certainly ignorant in a lot of production and facts behind it, but I know VSOP has a quality increase compared to VS, so a $1 difference in the bottles seemed like an obvious, if not concerning, choice. I know Paul Masson far more for their flavored brandies, but since flavored isn't my thing, I'm excited to taste the base that drives the popularity in all these other products. 4 years aged really did a number on the color here, as it almost looks like garnet, scarlet, and maroon had a baby, in addition to the expected chestnut brown. Dry oak and raw ethanol initially on the nose, with some overripe banana, brown sugar, and a touch of raisin behind it. Mostly sweet but without the grape musk or fig that's usually present on brandies that I've had, and isn't overpowering while still providing a savory dryness as well. A slightly dry, spicy, and watery body tasted up front. The banana comes back, mushy with some brown sugar and sweet oak alongside it. The body returns lighter and lighter with each sip, with a hint of rum notes coming up as well. The finish comes back dry and spicy, returning full circle from the initial taste, and only a minimal amount of grape musk. I've always been a firm believer in "you get what you pay for," but this is very impressive for the cost, at least, to me it is. With a more refined palate for brandy, I'm sure I could appreciate many more products and easily forget about this one, but I will absolutely savor the blissful ignorance in this instance as long as I can. Hell, I'd pay any amount of money for this amount of simple ignorance in the craft American whiskey market, but I digress. Maybe this is a simple, unrefined cognac, or maybe it actually is an unsung hero of taste for an actual fair, affordable price... What a world that would be. I'll surely be trying this out in some classic cocktails to see if it can stand up there as well, but even if it doesn't, it seems easy and obvious to me to get a few dollars together to keep this on the bar whenever the craving strikes.

For my first brandy I’m thoroughly intrigued about the spirit itself, so I’ll call that a win. Smooth and sweet, but not a lot else to speak of in a good way. In a Sidecar with Cointreau it can’t hold up very well, but neat it drinks just fine.

Simple. Sweet. Oaky. Slight sour and almost sulfuric note. I suppose it’s reasonable to use as a mixer but mostly just unrefined. Reasonably proced for what it is but otherwise belies the VSOP designation. I wont ever reach for this if I am looking for a sipper.

Has a pleasant flavor and sweetness to it with a very fruity finish

Not exactly a Courvorsier or Hennessy but it will do in a pinch. Ethanol and a hint of molasses on the nose. Subtle prune taste. Quick diluted finish. Pleasant and inoffensive for an after-dinner drink.