Adelphi 25yo 1994/2021

Adelphi 25yo 1994/2021

Brandy: Armagnac 

From: Bas Armagnac

House: Unknown

Style: Single distillery, single vintage 

Colour: Dark amber

ABV: 55%

N: Toffee apples, cornflakes, vanilla, raisins, cherry brandy. With water, raisins, brown paper, red grapes. 

M: Medium body, thickens, hot, tingly. 

T: Bitter sweet. Cherry brandy, cornflakes, orange peel, toffee apples, butterscotch, raisins. With water, toffee apples, brown paper, red grapes, black pepper. 

F: Medium. Butterscotch, coffee, orange peel, vanilla.

Comments:

Cask AM2/20. Unknown armagnac, bottled by Adelphi, a bottler that normally bottles whiskies. It’s cask strength, which was what drew me to it. You don’t normally get brandies at above 42% in strength. 

It’s sweet and luscious, lots of toffee apples and cherries. It’s almost Calvados like at cask strength, with some heavy cereal notes. With water it opens up, becoming more like Armagnac. It fades nicely to a spicy finish. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot.  

Bache-Gabrielsen VS 3 Kors

 Bache-Gabrielsen VS 3 Kors

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Bache-Gabrielsen

Style: Blend

ABV: 40%

N: Cinnamon, cardamom, nutmeg, raisins, vanilla, honey, hints of bananas. 

M: Light body, cool, loosens, slightly oily. 

T: Sweet. Cardamom, pears, white grapes, raisins, honey, hints of bananas. 

F: Short. Toast, honey, white grapes, hints of bananas. 

Comments:

A spicy and light cognac, some fruit but quite heavy on the cardamom. It’s not very complex, and is of course quite young. It’s not what I expected, I associate Bache-Gabrielsen with complexity and slightly more robust flavours. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Victor Gontier 2003 Vieille Reserve

Victor Gontier 2003 Vieille Reserve 

Brandy: Calvados

From: Domfrontais

House: Victor Gontier

Style: Single distillery, single vintage

Colour: Golden

ABV: 40%

N: Honey, raisins, apples, pears, hints of liquorice. 

M: Light body, loose, cool, slightly tingly. 

T: Sweet. Raisins, pears, hay, dried apples, liquorice, blackcurrant. 

F: Long. Bittersweet, black tea, saffron, hay, pears. 

Comments:

I like Domfrontais Calvados, as I really enjoy the way the apple and pear notes offset each other and bring some complexity. This 2003 vintage expression has way more than that, lots of raisins (in fact it’s rather cognac like) and liquorice. I love the complexity. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Bache Gabrielsen Serenite

Bache Gabrielsen Serenite 

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Bache Gabrielsen

Style: Blend

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: Peaches, red grapes, raisins, honey, terracotta dust, hints of leather. 

M: Medium body, sticky, cool, slightly syrupy. 

T: Bitter sweet. Pear drops, peaches, raisins, vanilla, orange peel, leather. 

F: Long. Honey, walnut skins, orange peel, leather. 

Comments:

Fruity, leathery and slightly dusty, this tastes quite a bit older than it is. It’s reasonably complex, and has a good level of sweetness (i.e. not too much). I’ve had better cognacs, but this one really hit the spot. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Domaine des Cassagnoles 5yo

Domaine des Cassagnoles 5yo

Brandy: Armagnac

From: Ténarèze

House: Domaine des Cassagnoles

Style: Single distillery

Colour: Red brown

ABV: 41%

N: Chocolate cake, white grapes, salt caramel. 

M: Medium body, clingy, mouth coating. 

T: Sweet. Limes, green tea, prunes, apricots. 

F: Medium. Lime peel, orange blossom. 

Comments:

Another old tasting note, this one from around mid 2008. It’s probably the first armagnac I ever tasted, and you can probably tell by the simplicity of the tasting notes. 

I thought it had a great nose, very chocolatey, which is probably how I perceived notes of pruneaux in those days. On the tongue, I found it less sweet, and probably more floral. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

 

Marquis de Puységur Napoleon

Marquis de Puységur Napoleon

Brandy: Armagnac

From: Bas Armagnac

House: Cave Coopérative de Villeneuve de Marsan 

Style: Blend

Colour: Orange amber

ABV: 40%

N: Orange peel, lemons, raisins, black pepper, hints of roses. 

M: Medium body, astringent, tingly. 

T: Sweet sour. Lemons, raisins, black pepper, limes, roses, hints of black tea. 

F: Long. Black tea, black pepper, lemons, hints of roses. 

Comments: 

An old tasting note. Haven’t had any for a while. I had this maybe 12 or 13 years ago, and I remember it as being very spicy and lovely. I had it after a large multi course meal, although I can’t quite remember where. It was lovely. I do remember craving an Islay whisky right after though. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Courvoisier XO

Courvoisier XO

Brandy: Cognac

From: ?

House: Courvoisier

Style: Blend

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: Red grapes, raisins, honey, cloves, chocolate. 

M: Light body, slippery, loosens, slightly, warm. 

T: Sweet. Blackberry cordial, raisins, honey, cherries, chocolate. 

F: Short. Blackberry cordial, chocolate, cherries, honey. 

Comments:

Rather standard and one dimensional. Although it’s older than the VS expression from the same house, I enjoyed this less. 

Verdict:

Not bad. 

Avallen Calvados

Avallen Calvados

Brandy: Calvados

From: AOC Calvados

House: Domaine du Coquerel, bottled by Avallen

Style: Single distillery 

Colour: Bright gold

ABV: 40%

N: Apples, ink, sea salt, iron filings, fresh baked bread, vanilla. 

M: Medium body, astringent, cool, tingly. 

T: Bitter salty. Vanilla, apples, sea salt, apricots, white grapes, hints of sandalwood. 

F: Short. Walnut skins, black tea, apricots, sea salt. 

Comments:

Independently bottled brandy is a rarity. Avallen is a company, who, having sourced Calvados from Domaine du Coquerel, a small distillery in Normandy, have bottled it under their own brand. It’s great - not too sweet, but with plenty of fruit and tannic notes. Highly enjoyable and at a good price too. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Máxime Trijol VS

Máxime Trijol VS

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Máxime Trijol

Style: Single distillery

Colour: Dark gold

ABV: 40%

N: Cloves, sea salt, honey, raisins, hints of leather. 

M: Medium body, slippery, loosens slightly, mouth coating. 

T: Sweet salty. Honey, raisins, cherries, leather, white grapes, vanilla. 

F: Medium. Cloves, honey, white grapes, cherries. 

Comments:

This cognac tastes fairly young, with some saline notes on the nose, but layered over with plenty of fruit. There’s a bit of a cough mixture vibe on the tongue, and there’s plenty of spice on the finish. Simple, but enjoyable. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Hine Homage to Thomas Hine

Hine Homage to Thomas Hine 

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Hine

Style: Blend

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: Grape must, elderflower, raisins, honey, vanilla, hints of cloves. 

M: Light body, loosens, airy, slippery. 

T: Bitter. Walnuts, coffee, quinces, honey, grape must, chocolate. 

F: Medium. Chocolate, quinces, honey, hints of elderflower. 

Comments:

A lovely, simple cognac, lots of strong but complementary flavours. Fruit, chocolate and floral notes layered very nicely over each other, with some bitter nutty flavours to add complexity. I’ve always enjoyed Hine cognacs, they’re well constructed and interesting. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Michel Huard Vieux Calvados

Michel Huard Vieux Calvados

Brandy: Calvados

From: AOC Calvados

House: Michel Huard

Style: Single distillery

Colour: Dark gold, tinge of green 

ABV: 40%

N: Butterscotch, toffee, baked apples, fresh baked bread, sea salt, hints of smoke. 

M: Heavy body, thickens, mouth coating, oily. 

T: Sweet sour. Honey, toffee, baked apples, fresh baked bread, vanilla, hints of fig jam. 

F: Long. Menthol, fig jam, fresh baked bread, honey. 

Comments:

Excellent Calvados. I really enjoyed this, silky, heavy, pleasant on on the tongue, with matching complexity in terms of layers of flavour. This is almost sherried, with lots of cooked fruit and honey. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Courvoisier VS

Courvoisier VS

Brandy: Cognac 

From: ?

House: Courvoisier 

Style: Blend 

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: Prunes, honeycomb, black pepper, vanilla, hints of black tea. 

M: Light body, cool, loose, slippery. 

T: Sweet. Blackberries, black pepper, vanilla, sour cherries, honeycomb, hints of prunes. 

F: Long. Sour cherries, black pepper, coffee, hints of chocolate. 

Comments:

Entry level expression from Courvoisier. It’s rather Armagnac-ey, lots of prune notes, especially on the nose, but these then turn to sour cherries and blackberries on the tongue. Nice long bitter finish. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Hine Bonneuil 2008

 Hine Bonneuil 2008

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Hine

Style: Single distillery, single vintage 

Colour: Golden

ABV: 42.7%

N: Red grapes, grape must, raisins, honey, cloves, hints of quince.  

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

T: Sweet sour. Grape must, honey, quinces, cherries, fresh baked bread, hints of cloves. 

F: Short. Cherries, honey, fresh baked bread, coffee. 

Comments: 

A single distillery, single vineyard cognac from Hine. It’s quite distinctive, lots of cough mixture cherry flavour, along with an odd feeling of under-fermented grape. It’s not unpleasant, rather it’s oddly smooth and drinkable. The strength is hardly noticeable, other than the slightly more intense flavour notes. Anyway, I’ve spent years drinking cask strength whisky, and my taste buds are rather insensitive by now. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Baron de Sigognac XO Platinum

Baron de Sigognac XO Platinum

Brandy: Armagnac

From: Bas Armagnac

House: Baron de Sigognac 

Style: Blend

Colour: Amber gold

ABV: 40%

N: Leather, prunes, tobacco leaf, vanilla ice cream, hints of farmyard. 

M: Light body, thickens slightly, tingly, warm. 

T: Sweet. Black tea, prunes, tobacco leaf, vanilla ice cream, candied oranges, hints of coffee. 

F: Short. Black tea, candied oranges, coffee, walnut skins, hints of farmyard. 

Comments:

I’ve not had too many from this negociant before, but it’s a popular house. This is a little bit of a premium version, and it’s that little bit more complex. Lots of fruit, sure, with the standard pruneaux notes, but also a lot of savoury, even slightly wild ‘smelly’ notes. Not too sweet either, always a plus in my book. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Frapin 1270

Frapin 1270

Brandy: Cognac

From: Grande Champagne

House: Frapin

Style: Single distillery

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: Raisins, strawberries, candied oranges, black tea, hints of coffee. 

M: Medium body, cool, slippery, expands. 

T: Sweet. Strawberries, vanilla ice cream, coffee, fresh baked bread, cherries, hints of chocolate. 

F: Medium. Coffee, cherries, chocolate, vanilla ice cream. 

Comments:

This tastes like an entry-level expression from Frapin, and is certainly lighter than some of the other cognacs that I’ve tried from that house. It’s not as deep or intense, instead, it’s rather gentle, with lighter fruit notes and some bitter sweet coffee notes. Highly enjoyable nevertheless.  

Verdict:

I like this. 

Camus VSOP Borderies 2017

Camus VSOP Borderies 2017

Brandy: Cognac

From: Borderies

House: Camus

Style: Single distillery, single vintage 

Colour: Teak

ABV: 40%

N: Cinnamon, raisins, orange peel, milk chocolate, allspice. 

M: Medium body, cool, thickens slightly, slippery. 

T: Sweet sour. Orange peel, milk chocolate, cinnamon, cloves, allspice, hints of damson jam. 

F: Long. Walnut skins, coffee, cinnamon, hints of milk chocolate. 

Comments:

Couple of firsts today - first cognac from Borderies and first coñac from Camus. It’s single vintage too! Lots of milk chocolate and cinnamon and cloves. Slightly gingery around the edges, quite enjoyable. Not incredible though, perhaps my expectations are too high. 

Verdict:

I like this. 

Sullivan’s Cove Single Cask Brandy

Sullivan’s Cove Single Cask Brandy

Brandy: Australian Brandy

From: Tasmania

House: Sullivan’s Cove 

Style: Single distillery, single vintage 

Colour: Pale amber

ABV: 50.5%

N: Chocolate, toffee, orange, salt caramel, butterscotch, cashews, hints of smoke. 

M: Light body, warm, tingly, loosens slightly. 

T: Salty sweet. Toffee, salt caramel, chocolate, orange peel, butterscotch, hints of tobacco leaf. 

F: Long. Molasses, butterscotch, salt caramel, chocolate, hints of orange peel. 

Comments:

Barrel TDB009. The master distiller at Sullivan’s Cove has a background in wine, and this brandy is one of the things she makes that harks back to her roots. It’s very good, fragrant and fruity, with a savoury edge. It’s not like the whisky at all, which is, oddly, sweeter than the brandy. It’s is lip smacking though. 

Verdict:

I like this a lot. 

Cognac Leyrat XO Vielle Reserve

 Cognac Leyrat XO Vielle Reserve

Brandy: Cognac

From: Fins Bois

House: Leyrat

Style: Single distillery

Colour: Amber

ABV: 40%

N: red grapes, leather, grape must, sea salt, honey, hints of fresh cut grass. 

M: Heavy body, sticky, thickens, mouth coating. 

T: Sweet salty. Blackcurrant cordial, leather, black tea, honey, sea salt, fresh cut grass. 

F: Medium. Black tea, walnuts, fresh cut grass, hints of cinnamon. 

Comments:

Rather savoury this. It’s got classic cognac flavours, it’s a bit Ribena-like, slight overtones of cough mixture, but that is quickly overtaken by savoury herbal flavours, rather like sitting in a meadow. Very enjoyable indeed. 

Verdict:

I like this.  

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.