Maltbarn Lot 86 no 137 (Vallein Tercinier 32yo 1986/2019)

Maltbarn Lot 86 no 137 (Vallein Tercinier 32yo 1986/2019)

Brandy: Cognac
From: Bons Bois
House: Vallein Tercinier
Style: Single distillery, single vintage
Colour: Dark gold
ABV: 44.5%

N: Raisins, leather, sea salt, Roquefort cheese, rancio, peach cobbler

M: Light body, slippery, cool, tingly.

T: Sweet. Raisins, prunes, peach cobbler, marmalade, rancio, leather.

F: Long. Black pepper, black tea, leather, marmalade.

Comments:

This is something slightly different, and maybe more what I'm used to. It's brandy, bottled by a whisky specialist. Maltbarn is a German independent bottler, and this is their first brandy that I've tasted. I gather they partner with Vallein Tercinier, a cognac house that is both a negociant and a distiller with their own vineyards. This particular expression is, like single cask whiskies, bottled from the Vallein Tercinier vineyards in the Bon Bois region, of a single year's vintage, with a specific age statement.

It's also the strongest brandy that I've sampled so far (if only just), and I have to say that the additional couple of percent of strength does make a difference. The flavours are rounder, starker, and more intense. No water required either, for me, although I know that this is probably personal to me, and a legacy of years of killing my taste buds with cask strength whisky.

The 32 years of aging stands out, there's a lovely leathery note, with a rather strong and fragrant blue cheese note on the nose. This is very well-defined rancio. Alongside, there are heaps of jammy, fruity notes, with perhaps a smattering of floral flavours as well.

Verdict:

I like this a lot.