Full Review

ABK6

ABK6
Single Estate XO Cognac

Category: XO Cognac

Date Tasted:
Country: France
Alcohol: 40%
Certified Organic
94 Points
Gold Medal
Exceptional
$114

ABK6
Single Estate XO Cognac

Category: XO Cognac

Date Tasted:
Country: France
Alcohol: 40%
Golden amber color. Aromas and flavors of orange, bee pollen and yellow flowers, apricot and five spice, and honey and milk chocolate with a round, lively, dry medium body and a tingling, compelling, medium-long finish with shades of wildflower honey and orange zest, dried apricot and toasted nuts, dates and plums, and cardamon and cinnamon. Dark and mysterious with bright fruit accents; enjoy the splash of peach and apricot with citrus bursts.

Tasting Info

Spirits Glass Style: Spicy & Complex
Aroma Aroma: orange, bee pollen and yellow flowers, apricot and five spice, and honey and milk chocolate
Taste Flavor: Same as aromas with shades of wildflower honey and orange zest, dried apricot and toasted nuts, dates and plums, and cardamon and cinnamon
Smoothness Smoothness: Tingling
Finish Finish: Long
Enjoy Enjoy: Enjoy on its own
Bottom Line Bottom Line: Dark and mysterious with bright fruit accents; enjoy the splash of peach and apricot with citrus bursts.

The Producer

SNC du Maine Drilhon

The Producer
Domaine de chez Maillard
Claix, 16440
France
33 -5 45 66 35 72

Their Portfolio

87 ABK6 Organic Vodka 40% (France) $18.00.
94 ABK6 Single Estate XO Cognac 40% (France) $114.00.

XO Cognac

Spirits Glass Snifter Brandy.jpg
Serve in a Snifter
X.O. (or extra old) Cognacs previously required a minimum of six years aging for the youngest cognac in the blend, with the average age running 20 years or older. All Cognac houses maintain inventories of old vintage Cognacs to use in blending these top of the line brands. The oldest Cognacs are removed from their casks in time and stored in glass demijohns (large jugs) to prevent further loss from evaporation and to limit excessively woody and astringent flavors.

As of 2016, according to the official Cognac regulatory agency, BNIC, the minimum component age requirement for X.O. Cognac must be 10 years from 2016 onwards. In practice many Cognac houses and brands had been at or above the 10 year requirement for their X.O. expressions, but this is now the legal requirement.