Dark amber in the glass. A bit of astringency on the nose, along with some fig in the background. Flavor has mild stone fruit with some heat when tasting. There is an almost nougat-like sweetness unlike anything I have tasted (in any liquor). The finish lingers a little but not too long. This is not a light, fruity, "perfumey" Cognac. It has a complex flavor but I feel there is too much heat for a 10 year old and for the price point. The heat may be off-putting for a novice. The heat actually reminds me of an Armagnac. I may update this review after pairing this with a medium strength cigar. If the cost is not an issue, it is worth a try for something different as far as Cognacs go. Normally costs around $95, but I grabbed it on sale for about $75.