Hine Antique XO

Hine Antique XO

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Hine

Style: Blend

Colour: Amber gold

ABV: 40%

N: red grapes, honey, raisins, sesame, pears, hints of chocolate. 

M: light body, cool, loose, slippery. 

T: Sweet. Cherries, honey, chocolate, raisins, fresh baked bread, pears, raspberries. 

F: Medium. Mint, fresh baked bread, cherries, chocolate. 

Comments:

Hine is rapidly becoming one of my favourite cognac houses, along with NAUD. I find Hine cognacs sweet and gentle, but with layers of flavours. This one has cherries and chocolate, and is absolutely delicious. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Somerset Cider Brandy 10yo

Somerset Cider Brandy 10yo

Brandy: Cider Brandy

From: Somerset

Style: Single distillery 

House: Somerset Cider Brandy

Colour: Dark gold

ABV: 42%

N: Apples, vanilla fudge, black tea, cinnamon, caramel. 

M: Heavy body, slippery, warm, tingly. 

T: Bitter sweet. Apples, vanilla fudge, walnuts, fresh baked bread, shortcrust pastry, hints of cinnamon. 

F: medium. Black tea, vanilla fudge, walnuts, cinnamon. 

Comments:

Brandy ages differently, I think, from whisky, and different fruit spirits age differently from each other too. Whisky develops complexity, gains sweet flavours from the wood, whilst brandy, already sweet to begin with, gains accents, by which I mean certain flavours are emphasised. Does the wood contribute flavour notes? Probably, but I find that I can’t discern them as easily in brandy as I can in whisky. 

Anyway, this is luscious and bittersweet stuff, very appley, but also redolent with walnuts and tea. It’s perhaps the brandy version of a sherried whisky. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cognac Leyrat VSOP

Cognac Leyrat VSOP

Brandy: Cognac

From: Fins Bois

House: Leyrat

Style: Single distillery

Colour: Dark gold

ABV: 40%

N: Chocolate, prunes, raisins, coffee, sea salt. 

M: Medium body, slippery, warm, slightly tingly. 

T: Sweet salty. Butterscotch, sea salt, raisins, prunes, hints of cinnamon. 

F: Short. Blackcurrant cordial, cinnamon, sea salt, butterscotch. 

Comments:

Quite a savoury brandy, with notes of pruneaux. Almost Armagnac like, it’s reasonably robust, and doesn’t have much of the delicate nature that I associate with cognac. But maybe I’m susceptible to marketing - is Armagnac really less delicate than cognac? I suppose I need to taste a really old cognac to compare. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Jules Gautret VSOP

Jules Gautret VSOP

Brandy: Cognac

From: Petite Champagne

House: Jules Gautret

Style: Blend

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: cloves, raisins, chocolate, coffee, white grapes, hints of cedar. 

M: heavy body, thickens, cool, sticky. 

T: Sweet salty. Coffee, blackcurrant cordial, cloves, cedar, menthol, sea salt. 

F: Short. Chocolate, coffee, sea salt, fresh baked bread. 

Comments:

A very straightforward brandy, this one is a little like savoury cough mixture. There are notes of cloves, an old remedy for chesty coughs, a very strong note of blackcurrant cordial, typical cough mixture flavouring, and something salty, reminiscent of a quack cure for a cough, gargling with salt water. 

Definitely a brandy for the times of Covid. 

Verdict:

I like this.