I've had horrible allergies for the past two weeks, and my palate is shot. I picked up a small boot flask of this stuff after seeing positive reviews and it not being ridiculously expensive. Seems like tonight is the night to try it. I don't know jack about Cognac apart from the basic info available here. I don't even know if you're supposed to drink it from a Glencairn, but hey, we play the hand we're dealt.
Unsurprisingly, the nose is fruity. Think apple orchard meets candy shop. There's also a lovely buttercream note lying underneath. So far so good. Taste compliments the nose. It's reminiscent of an un-finished Speyside like the Singleton or a Lowland malt like Glenkinchie, but lacks the heft of either of those malts (I've got no other Cognac's to compare this too, so whisky it is...). It's quite pleasant, but a little one dimensional, and the finish is rather abrupt, as to be expected at 40% (though I'm guessing most drinkers of spirits don't indulge in the high proof drams we all enjoy, so forgive the snobbery). The longer I let it linger, I get some tannic notes from the French oak casks that reminds me of Compass Box Oak Cross or Spice Tree. The spice at the end is lovely and goes well with the fruit.
A welcome diversion from whisky in light of a compromised palate. I didn't want to waste a GlenDronach or a Four Roses pour tonight on a busted nose, but this served as a nice change of pace. Always good to expand our palates and branch outside whisky once in a while. Helps us appreciate our favorite brown spirit even more. Cheers!