Germain-Robin Fine Alambic Brandy Lot 25 40% ABV/80 Proof $40 to $50 Website
What the Distillery Says: Hand-distilled on an antique cognac still by Hubert Germain-Robin, master cognac distiller, in Mendocino County, California.
Wonderful Californian fruit overtones, with appealing floral aromas and a sensuous viscosity in the mouth. Much better than VSOP cognacs.
What Richard Says: Nose: This one is fruitier and a little less floral that typical cognac. Fall leaves, fresh cut grass, lemons, and fresh grated ginger stand out. It’s also a little more alcoholic on the nose than you would expect at 80 proof. Palate: Light, delicate, grassy, not overly sweet. It’s very refreshing. No a typical cognac-type palate. Finish: The finish is a little musty, not too woody, dry, and rather clean. There are are more hints of cognac-type flavors on the finish than either the nose or palate. Comments: I had a little fun with Matt a few years back. We were exchanging whiskey samples and one of the samples I gave him had no label. I told him just to try it and tell me what he thought. I got a lot of guesses for various whiskeys but the end result was that he really liked the sample and wanted to know what I’d given him. Well, it was a generous sample from my first bottle of Germain-Robin. It’s been around for over 20 years but I only discovered it about five years ago. I’ve bought several bottles since then. I was, and still am blown away by the quality of this American brandy. The makers have a great story and a really great product. I really think this is a stand out product for cognac, brandy, and whiskey fans alike. Rating: Stands Out
Pierre Ferrand Reserve Grande Champagne Cognac 40% ABV/80 Proof $65 to $70 Website
What the Distillery Says: The Reserve has depth and density. The fresh roses have transitioned to dried roses, and the bright citrus has softened and mellowed into something richer and more diffuse. A distinct note of honey pervades the nose, and the texture is dense, soft, and silky.
All Ferrand cognacs are derived from vineyards in the heart of the chalk-rich and mineral-laden soils of the Grande Champagne region.
What Richard Says: Nose: The nose is very sweet and floral. It’s floral in the same vein as the Ambre. Ferrand says roses, I can’t quite be sure that’s it. I also get a citrus sweetness with cinnamon and cloves. It also kind of reminds me of the smell of brand new dress shoes. Palate: The flavors are a little more muted and coy than the Ambre and it was already muted. Honey sweetness and lots of orchard fruit present if you roll it around for a while. Finish: The finish is incredibly sweet. It’s almost like the finish on a liqueur. It’s a little woody but it’s a big improvement over the Ambre. Comments: I’m really liking the influence of the extra 10 years. The 20 year old Reserve is a more reserved and polish older brother to the 10 year old Ambre. At $65 I also think it’s a pretty good buy. If you’re apt to try brandy then go for this one. However, if you don’t like brandy or cognac in general I don’t think this will change your religion on the subject. Rating: Must Try
Pierre Ferrand Ambre Grande Champagne Cognac 40% ABV/80 Proof $40 Website
What the Distillery Says: The Ambre is pure warm comfort. Mellow, rounded, richly aromatic, redolent of prunes and apricots and peaches, it had surprisingly little wood evident. Instead there was light spicy cinnamon and a whisper of vanilla. There’s a distinct floral note of roses as well, and a wonderful whiff of fresh fruit pastries baking in the oven, with a wisp of almond past or marzipan. All Ferrand cognacs are derived from vineyards in the heart of the chalk-rich and mineral-laden soils of the Grand Champagne region.
What Richard Says: Nose: Almond cookies, roses, and fruit blossoms. It’s like being in a orchard during the first spring blooms. Palate: The palate is a little more muted than I expected. It’s very mellow with cinnamon and stone fruits. Finish: The finish is not my favorite. It’s a little tart and acidic. However, a good cigar mellows the finish out nicely. Comments: I don’t know about all the “wisps” and “whispers” the maker touts but this a very enjoyable brandy. Pierre Ferrand was my first foray into Grande Champagne cognacs and I still keep it close at hand in some form or another. Pierre Ferrand as a range and the Ambre itself stand out among cognacs. If you are a regular brandy drinker I recommend giving it a try. If you’re a hard core whiskey drinker who has never indulged in cognac or brandy I think it might be time to be a little adventurous. Rating: Stands Out
Whisk(e)y Apostle would lead you to believe we drink whiskey. We do. We drink a good bit of it but that’s not the only thing we drink. I like a good brandy ever now and again too. Around the holidays, especially Thanksgiving and Christmas I like to break out the brandy for an after dinner drink. As a nice change of pace for November we’ll be posting brandy reviews as our Friday highlighted reviews of the month. We’ve got a couple of nice bottle of Pierre Ferrand cognac and some Germain-Robin American brandy that’s really great. We’ll probably also have a few miscellaneous other whiskey reviews as we continue to work through the Whisk(e)y Apostle cellars. Stay tuned.
Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper 35% ABV/70 proof $16.99 for 750 ml What the Distillery Says: Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper is a devilishly spicy Cajun concoction that turns up the heat of the pursuit of pleasure. Genuine whiskey and the premium flavors of Southern Comfort get a blast of real Tabasco Sauce® in this fusion of fire and spice.
Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper is an original concoction of two Louisiana classics, Southern Comfort and Tabasco. The idea of fusing these two iconic brands was done with an eye toward consumer’s enjoyment of challenge shots and the growing popularity of spicy foods, while remaining genuine to the roots of both brands.
Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper is a unique product that blends the great taste of Southern Comfort with robust and fiery pepper flavors. Most people know that Southern Comfort proudly traces its roots to New Orleans, so the Cajun inspiration of flavorful peppers is a perfect partner. We start by blending a Southern Comfort base and then carefully introducing our proprietary blend of pepper flavors. Similar to the great Chefs of New Orleans creating that perfect Cajun dish, we painstakingly screened & selected several pepper flavors to create the ideal balance, which can be described as habanera and green pepper. Spicy heat (capsaicin) is measured in Scoville units, and the heat in Southern Comfort Fiery Pepper has a Scoville value comparable to Anaheim, Poblano, Rocotillo and Peppadew peppers. The next step is to blend together real Tabasco® Sauce and whiskey. These ingredients are blended and then carefully filtered for clarity. The Tabasco and whiskey blend is then added to the Southern Comfort for the ultimate blend of the great taste of Southern Comfort, the spiciness of pepper and Tabasco, finished with the smoothness of whiskey.
What Richard Says: Nose: The nose on the puppy is all hot peppers. Palate: The palate is like a milder version of Southern Comfort with a Tabasco kick. Finish: There are little traces of sweetness but mostly it’s all peppers. Comments: This is one interesting little idea. With all the honey, vanilla, and cherry iterations of just about every mainstream brand this is a refreshing change. I actually kind of like it. It’s made with real whiskey and real Tabasco sauce. Southern Comfort recommends consuming this chilled and in cocktails. I tried it chilled and I agree it’s even better that way. Brown-Forman also sent over some cocktail suggestions included below. Rating: Stands Out
I would like to thank Svend Jansen with Brown-Forman for sending me a bottle to review.
SoCo® FIERY PEPPER SHOT 1 1/2 oz. SoCo® FIERY PEPPER Keep cold in the fridge until you’re sure you’re ready, then pour carefully into shot glass
SoCo® FIERY PEPPER SWEET VENGEANCE 1 1/2 oz. SoCo® FIERY PEPPER 1/2 oz. Pineapple Juice Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Shake with a sense of rage. Strain into a shot glass.
SoCo® FIERY PEPPER VOLCANO SACRIFICE 1 1/2 oz. SoCo® FIERY PEPPER 2 1/2 oz. OJ 3 1/2 oz. Cranberry Juice Combine ingredients with ice in a shaker. Strain into a shot glass and make a wish to the Tiki gods.
SoCo® FIERY PEPPER VOODOO DOCTOR 1 1/2 oz. SoCo® FIERY PEPPER DR PEPPER® Pour SoCo® FIERY PEPPER into a tall glass with ice. Mumble some voodoo mumbo jumbo while top it off with Dr Pepper® and garnish with a lime wedge.
SoCo® FIERY PEPPER BLOODY MARY 2 oz. SoCo® FIERY PEPPER 6 OZ. Bloody Mary Mix Squeeze of lime Combine ingredients in a tall glass with ice. Stir cautiously. Garnish with a celery stick.
SoCo® FIERY PEPPER MARGARITA 2 oz. SoCo® FIERY PEPPER 4 oz. Margarita Mix Pinch of salt Squeeze of lime Combine ingredients in a rocks glass with ice. Stir con mucho gusto. Garnish with a lime wedge.
