Torres 5 Solera Reserva

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As shocking as this may seem, this brandy tastes similar to Torres 10 and Torres 15. However, this brandy has the additional feature of costing $7 a bottle (at least when I got it). The aroma is chocolate, maybe a bit of coffee, and berries, sort of like chocolate-covered raspberries. Based on my extensive research (that is, tasting this, Torres 10, and Torres 15), I declare this chocolate-covered-raspberry flavor the hallmark of Torres brandy. There is also some spice-cake type scent, along with basic grape and some vanilla. A bit of alcohol is detectable too. The aroma is not super powerful but it is pleasant. The taste is again chocolate covered raspberries. That's by far the main impression I get, but again there's some spice layered under that. It's a bit sweet and has some generic grape flavor, but that's tempered by the slight bitterness of the dark-chocolate flavor. The finish is more dark chocolate and less raspberry (but still a bit). I compared this side-by-side with Torres 10 and it's interesting how similar they are. The overall flavor profile is almost identical, but the 10 has more fullness and richness while this is a bit thinner and leans a bit more on the garden-variety grape spirit flavor. (My recollection is that Torres 15 was fuller and richer still, but it's been a while since I had that and I don't have it on hand to compare.) Even so, this isn't bad at all. It's pleasant and easy to sip. So yeah, it's not super complex. . . but it cost $7. It's perhaps a bit on the sweet side. . . but it cost $7. It's padded out with alcohol and bland grape notes. . . but it cost $7. As you may have heard, this bottle cost me $7. At that price I would definitely buy it again, and in fact it may be one of the best values I've had in any category of liquor. The 10 and 15 year versions cost around $17 and $27, respectively. Looking online, I gather that $12 may be a more typical price for this one. If that were the case and the 10 were still $17 I might upgrade --- and I might do so anyway --- as the 10 is definitely better. But still this would tempt me. This is definitely not a ritzy or nuanced brandy, but at $7, it doesn't need to be, and at that price (or even a bit more) it's definitely worth a try.

Карамель, шоколад, жженый сахар. Рот маслянистый, древесный, едва пряный.