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Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados & Grappa
Reviews for 2018

January 2018 - Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados & Grappa

January 2018 - Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados & Grappa
This month's Spirits feature is Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados & Grappa

Cognac, Armagnac, Calvados & Grappa Reviews

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Drouet et Fils Paradis de Famille Hors dAge Cognac
97 points
$230
Drouet et Fils
Paradis de Famille Hors d'Age Cognac
Bronze color. Aromas of sweet ripe mango, creme fraiche, fine leather, polished furniture, cherry fruit leather, and cured meats with a slightly chewy, crisp, dryish full body and a warming, subtle, very long aromatic barks, terra cotta, toasted crumpet, and roasted pumpkin seeds finish. A giant, chewy cognac for the most special of occasions.
Awards: 2017 Best Cognac, 2017 Best Luxury Cognac, 2017 Best Brandy
97 points $230
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Date Tasted:
Pierre Ferrand Reserve Double Cask Cognac
96 points
$79.99
Best Buy
Pierre Ferrand
Reserve Double Cask Cognac
Golden amber color. Aromas of roasted agave, caramelized pineapple, luxury cigarette, fresh organic pear, roasted pine nuts, coriander, and mustard with a vibrant, fruity medium body and a warming, very complex, very long sweety drop peppers, fine english toffee, and star fruit finish. A sophisticated and finesseful cognac that will delight connoisseurs.
96 points $79.99 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Selection Olivier Blanc XO Extraordinaire Cognac
96 points
$180
Selection Olivier Blanc
XO Extraordinaire Cognac
Amber color. Elegant aromas of rich caramel, teriyaki sauce, roasted nut butter, fruit preserves, and anise with a round, lively, dryish medium-full body and a warming, complex, very long salted peanut skins, black tea, warm earthy spices, and menthol finish. An exceptionally balanced, powerful, and lengthy cognac for whiskey lovers.
Awards: 2017 Best XO Cognac
96 points $180
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Date Tasted:
Drouet et Fils XO Ulysse Cognac
94 points
$140
Drouet et Fils
XO Ulysse Cognac
Copper color. Inviting aromas of prosciutto, cafe au lait, cherry mostarda, musk, and yuzu with a round, bright, dryish medium-to-full body and a warming, very complex, long chocolate dipped candied orange peels, cinnamon spice drops, chocolate caramel candies, and dried rose petals finish. A delicious, engaging cognac with a long, developing finish; savor.
94 points $140
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Date Tasted:
Selection Olivier Blanc Exceptionnel Cognac
94 points
$380
Selection Olivier Blanc
Exceptionnel Cognac
Dark amber color. Exotic, fruity aromas and flavors of bright lychee, peach candies, vanilla caramel, ramune soda, and dried apricot with a velvety, vibrant, fruity medium-full body and a warming, interesting, long finish with notes of sweet tobacco, mango powder, and thai chiles finish. Rich exotic fruits explode out of the glass in this distinctive expression of cognac.
94 points $380
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Date Tasted:
Cognac Roullet VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac
93 points
$39
Best Buy
Cognac Roullet
VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac
Amber color. Aromas of pear tart, coffee cake crust, sweet candied pecans, fruity olive, and agave nectar with a round, vibrant, fruity medium-to-full body and a seamless, distinctive, medium-long cigar wrapper, spice cake, caramel buttercream, and suede finish. A rich, satisfying, flavor-packed VSOP that over-delivers for it’s category.
Awards: 2017 Best VSOP Cognac
93 points $39 Best Buy
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Date Tasted:
Camus Borderies XO Cognac
93 points
$159.99
Camus
Borderies XO Cognac
Copper color. Fruity aromas of apple pie, cherry cordial, tobacco shop, chocolate shavings, and wintergreen with a round, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a sleek, captivating, medium-length chocolate coated toffee, salted caramel sponge cake, and molasses finish. A craveable XO cognac with delectable doses of caramel and chocolate flavor.
93 points $159.99
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Date Tasted:
Alexander Grappa di Cabernet
92 points
$39.99
Alexander
Grappa di Cabernet
Clear color. Rustic aromas of hay, green tea, dried mango, dried lime peel, and tobacco with a velvety, bright, dry-yet-fruity light body and a medium-long marzipan wrapped cherries, icing sugar, dried lemon peel, and bee pollen finish. A terroir-driven grappa; sip after a good meal.
Awards: 2017 Best Grappa
92 points $39.99
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Date Tasted:
Drouet et Fils VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac
92 points
$65
Drouet et Fils
VSOP Grande Champagne Cognac
Bright amber color. Tropical, savory aromas and flavors of dried pineapple and mango, prosciutto, gingerbread, paprika, and peach skins with a satiny, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a warming, complex, long finish displaying notes of miso glaze and toasted sesame seeds finish. A stunning VSOP with great complexity, charm, and intrigue; over-delivers for the category.
92 points $65
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Date Tasted:
Bache-Gabrielsen XO Natur & Eleganse Cognac
92 points
$84.99
Bache-Gabrielsen
XO Natur & Eleganse Cognac
Copper color. Aromas of saffron, pickled apples, olives, marcona almonds, spearmint, and plum butter on caraway rye with a round, vibrant, dryish medium body and an intricate, medium-long dried starfruit, white pepper, and fine leather finish. An elegant, slow moving cognac for contemplative enjoyment.
92 points $84.99
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Date Tasted:
Boulard Calvados VSOP
91 points
$49.99
Boulard
Calvados VSOP
Brilliant copper color. Fruity, pure aromas of juicy red apples, fine tea, roasted walnuts, cinnamon-butterscotch, and leather with a velvety, lively, dry-yet-fruity light-to-medium body and a warming, interesting, medium-length creme anglaise atop warm apple compote, mixed peppercorns, pepperoncini, and tobacco ash finish. A fresh, dry Calvados for after-dinner sipping.
91 points $49.99
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Date Tasted:
D’USSÉ VSOP Cognac
91 points
$51.99
D’USSÉ
VSOP Cognac
Dark amber color. Elegant aromas of chocolate covered dried cherries, sweet tobacco, and apple sharlotka with a round, vibrant, fruity medium-full body and a warming, interesting, long resin and aniseed finish. An elegant and full-bodied VSOP that will provide endless pleasure.
91 points $51.99
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Date Tasted:
Camus Borderies VSOP Cognac
91 points
$54.99
Camus
Borderies VSOP Cognac
Dark amber color. Fruity aromas and flavors of honey drizzled fresh figs, ripe nectarine, dried orange peels, and plum compote with a glycerous, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a tingling, medium-length finish with accents of meyer lemon glaze, dried chamomile flowers, and bing cherries finish. A fruit-forward crowd-pleasing VSOP for sipping and mixing.
91 points $54.99
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Date Tasted:
Alexander Grappa Bianca
90 points
$37.99
Alexander
Grappa Bianca
Clear color. Confected aromas of green pear, tutti fruiti candies, banana marshmallow, guayabana, crisp raw asparagus, and sunflower seeds with a velvety, crisp, fruity light body and a warming, intriguing, medium-length dandelion, marjoram, chamomile tea, banana leaf, and ground peppercorns finish. A fruit-forward Grappa with a friendly nose and a palate reminiscent of the summer countryside.
90 points $37.99
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Date Tasted:
Campagnere XO Cognac
90 points
$169.98
Campagnere
XO Cognac
Bronze color. Exotic aromas of jasmine tea with honey, aniseed, fresh chervil, and caramel with a round, crisp, dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body and a warming, medium-length leather, sarsaparilla, and minerals finish. A solid XO Cognac with an enticing aroma.
90 points $169.98
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Date Tasted:
Campagnere VSOP Cognac
88 points
$49.96
Campagnere
VSOP Cognac
Copper color. Aromas of vanilla petit fours with orange marmalade, suede, sweet cigar wrapper, mace, and mahogany with a velvety, bright, dryish medium-to-full body and a smooth, refreshing, medium-long dried rose petals, cherry pastry, and roasted nutskins finish. An oak-forward and rewarding VSOP to share with excellent company.
88 points $49.96
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Date Tasted:
Selection Olivier Blanc XO Artisanal Cognac
88 points
$80
Selection Olivier Blanc
XO Artisanal Cognac
Golden amber color. Aromas of peach and apricot fruit leather, salted caramel, honey drizzled marcona almonds, and forest mushrooms with a silky, vibrant, dry-yet-fruity medium body and a peppery, stimulating, medium-long cherry, pine, white pepper, and chocolate spiked espresso finish. A light-on-it-feet XO that favors finesse over brawn.
88 points $80
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Date Tasted:
Boulard Calvados Pays dAuge XO
88 points
$89.99
Boulard
Calvados Pays d'Auge XO
Bronze color. Earthy aromas of bee pollen, alpine herbs, damp trees, and apple handpie with a silky, crisp, dryish light-to-medium body and a tingling, interesting, medium-length apple quickbread, gingerbread, and hazelnut creamer finish. A light and mysterious Calvados that might be a nice departure for single malt fans.
88 points $89.99
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Date Tasted:
Alexander Grappolo
88 points
$105
Alexander
Grappolo
Clear color. Floral aromas and flavors of wildflowers, bosc pear, sweet honey, almond nougat, and wisteria with a satiny, bright, dry light body and a tingling, brisk finish that exhibits accents of dandelion greens, aniseed, tropical fruit, and ghee finish. A beautiful, perfumed grappa with graceful length.
88 points $105
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Date Tasted:
Campagnere VS Cognac
87 points
$36.99
Campagnere
VS Cognac
Clear golden amber color. Aromas and flavors of caramel, toasted almond, rum raisin ice cream, and cola with a lean, soft, dry-yet-fruity thin body and a short finish. An easy drinking, pleasurable cognac; sip, shoot, or mix.
87 points $36.99
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Date Tasted:
Courvoisier VS Cognac
85 points
$24.99
Courvoisier
VS Cognac
Clear amber color. Aromas of orchard fresh apple compote flecked with vanilla bean, cinnamon, nutmeg, and dried currants with a slightly chewy, vibrant, dryish light-to-medium body and a hot, medium dried pineapple, parchment, and schechuan peppercorn finish. A solid cognac for mixing.
85 points $24.99
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Date Tasted:
Bache-Gabrielsen VSOP Natur & Eleganse Cognac
84 points
$49.99
Bache-Gabrielsen
VSOP Natur & Eleganse Cognac
Golden amber color. Aromas of pear compote, cinnamon dusted sultanas, overripe tangerine, and shredded tobacco with a satiny, crisp, dry light body and a smooth, swift cinnamon, nutmeg, allspice, and ground black pepper finish. A peppery, understated cognac for mixing.
84 points $49.99
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Date Tasted:
Tremols Grappa
83 points
$12
Tremols
Grappa
Brilliant clear color. Aromas of banana leaf and marsh grasses with a supple, soft, bone-dry light-to-medium body and a warming, brisk bitter garlic scapes and tomatillo paper finish. A swift kickin’ grappa for caffe corretto.
83 points $12
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Date Tasted:
Merlet Chevessac Pineau des Charentes Extra Vieux
83 points
$35.99
Merlet
Chevessac Pineau des Charentes Extra Vieux
Dark amber color. Sweet aromas and flavors of rich clover honeycomb, pomegranate molasses, dried figs and dates, dried grasses, miso, and sultanas with a satiny, vibrant, sweet light body and a smooth, interesting, medium-length finish with notes of dried apricot, fresh oak, pastry creme, and raisin cake finish. A savory Pineau with lovely cloud-like weight.
83 points $35.99
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Date Tasted:
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