Other Spirits

PM Spirits Single Cask XO Grande Champagne Cognac

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

PM Spirits Single Cask XO Grande Champagne Cognac

42.6% ABV
$110-$135
Website
PM Spirits Single Cask XO Grande Champagne Cognac

What the Producer Says

(Below notes are from K&L Wine’s website)
This single barrel of eau-de-vie was acquired by Nicolas Palazzi over 10 years ago. It was already at least 10 years of age at the time with some eau-de-vie slightly older, around 15 years old, all distilled at a renowned single estate. With the help of the incredibly knowledgeable Jean-Noel Pelletan, a local artisanal cooper, Nicolas spent the next ten years researching age old techniques to bring the most out of this cask. Pelletan has an encyclopedic knowledge of all things cognac and a vast collection of historic technical manuscripts. It’s the secrets that were held in those books and his mind that brought this special cognac into existence. Bottled without additives or chill filtration of any kind at a cask strength of 42.6% alc by vol. Bottled in July 2020 at between 20 and 25 years of age.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Rich perfume, floral, fruity with apricots, melon, kiwi, apples, bit of caramel, oak and subtle spices.
Palate:  Rich mouthfeel, fruitcake with cherries, apricots, apple, bit of pepper spice, clove, a note of molasses, and a hint of mint.
Finish:  Long and dry with oak and honey.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Cognac (so read at your own risk!)
Comments:  Insanely intense flavor and nose for 42.6%! Not really a cognac drinker let along afficiando, but I know what I like – and I liked this. A lot. I didn’t have the prior 3 cognacs to try side-by-side with this, but of the others I sampled this spring, this was my favorite by such a wide margin, that’s inconsequential.

Rating: Must Try

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Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. Cognac

/ / Other Spirits, Review /

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. Cognac

40% ABV
$35-50
Website
Remy Martin VSOP Cognac

What the Producer Says

VERSATILE / ELEGANT / ICONIC
The icon: generous and audacious

Rémy Martin VSOP embodies the perfect harmony of powerful and elegant aromas. It is the symbol of the Cellar Master’s art of blending.

Rémy Martin VSOP is composed of eaux-de-vie coming exclusively from the highest-quality vineyards of Cognac, the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Such eaux-de-vie offer an exceptional ageing potential and are known as Cognac Fine Champagne.

In 1927, Rémy Martin’s Cellar Master André Renaud created the very first VSOP Fine Champagne—a truly visionary and audacious decision. This prestigious appellation would be officially recognized 11 years later as an AOC (Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée – a specific growing area protected by French law).

In 2010, Rémy Martin VSOP Fine Champagne Cognac won a gold medal at the Spirits Business Cognac Masters (UK).

FRUITINESS: 4/5 | Aromas coming from the still wine’s fermentation, distillation on the lees and ageing

SMOOTHNESS: 3/5 | Sensation on the mouth giving mellowness, balance and perfect harmony

OPULENCE: 3/5 | Defines the intensity of richness in the cognac’s aromas.

LENGTH: 3/5 | The length of time for which the tastes are expressed after a sip

CHARACTER
NOSE: Dominant notes of vanilla thanks to longer ageing in French Limousin oak barrels, followed by ripe apricot, baked apple, and an elegant floral note.
TASTE: A perfect harmony between the firm character of ripe fruit and subtle notes of liquorice, offering a great complexity of elegant and powerful aromas.
BODY: Well-balanced, structured, and multi-layered, it combines the roundness of ripe fruit with a silky texture.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral, fruity with plums edging towards citrus, tropical candied pineapple.
Palate:  Fruit, spiced apples and pears, cinnamon, nutmeg, a hint of anise.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with dark berries.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Cognac (so read at your own risk!)
Comments:  More rich and more spice than the Courvoisier V.S., I definitely liked this better – although not my favorite of the three.

Rating: Stands Out

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Courvoisier V.S. Cognac

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Courvoisier V.S. Cognac

40% ABV
$26
Website
Courvoisier VS Cognac

What the Producer Says

THE BLEND
A youthful and lively blend of cognac, delivering a spectrum of sensations.
Courvoisier® VS Cognac is a blend of several crus aged between three and seven years (four to eight for Russia), composed principally of Fins Bois with a balancing hand of Petite Champagne.

TASTING NOTES:  The fusion of younger and older cognacs gives Courvoisier® VS a fruity, delicate taste and a bouquet filled with ripe fruit and spring flowers.

Ripe Fruits | The chalky soil in Fins Bois delivers a hint of ripened fruits that is its signature aroma.

Spring Flowers | Inhale deeply for the bouquet of spring flowers, which is a hallmark of grapes harvested at their peak from the Fins Bois crus.

Fresh Oakiness | The rich, fresh oak bouquet is controlled throughout the aging process to make sure it doesn’t dominate the young cognac.

What Gary Says

Nose:  Floral, grapey, honey suckle, fruity with apples and pears.
Palate:  Sweet, floral and fruity with apples and pears, hint of cinnamon, vanilla, and white wine.
Finish:  Short to moderate in length, drying with apple.
DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Cognac (so read at your own risk!)
Comments:  A crisp and fruity dram. Nothing offensive or off-putting, although not especially interesting either (at least to me). This was the first of three Cognacs I sampled side by side, and spoiler alert – was my least favorite.

Rating: Average/Stands Out

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Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye

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Hercules Mulligan Rum & Rye
Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters

43% ABV
$50
Website
Hercules Mulligan Rum and Rye

What the Producer Says

Named for the little known tailor, spy, and hero of the American Revolution, who changed history and secured freedom for all, Hercules Mulligan is based on a unique recipe from the period. It’s what Mulligan, the man, stood for, and it’s what this Rum & Rye blend embodies. A spirit of independence.

Simple in its nature – Rum, Rye Whiskey, Ginger & Bitters – yet utterly complex and delightful, this unique composition tickles the nose and loosens the lips.

WHAT MAKES A HERO?
The Balance
A unique recipe from the era of revolution and self-determination, custom-tailored for the modern independent thinker. Perfectly balanced Caribbean Aged Rum & American Rye Whiskey create an equilibrium of duality – a secret to be (re)discovered.

The Unique Character
The Rum & Rye blend is combined with macerated, fresh organic ginger – not artificial flavors. And it’s the essence of this magical root, that gives the blend a kick and builds its distinctive character.

The Audacity Favored by Fortune
The potion is finished with a dash of bespoke bitters that add that extra flavor. No fakery, only honest-to-God ingredients that capture the essence of a bittersweet life.

SPECS
CATEGORY: Rum & Rye
ORIGIN: The US & the Caribbean
NO. OF SPIRITS IN BLEND: 6
HERO INGREDIENTS: Rum, American Rye Whiskeys, tailor-made bitters, fresh ginger

What Gary Says

Nose:  Freshly cut ginger, menthol shaving lather, bitters.
Palate:  Syrupy mouthfeel with candied ginger, rum and bitters.
Finish:  Moderately long, wet with ginger, pepper and honey.
Comments:  So I got this from Flaviar when my quarterly benefit included a ‘free premium bottle’ but the selection offered didn’t have any whisk(e)y I wanted. I like Rock & Rye, like ginger, so what the hell. Glad it was a throw in. The nose on this reminds me of lathering for a wet shave, then slicing fresh ginger into a glass of Bacardi with bitters. I don’t get any rye (maybe the mint from the rye is that menthol note?) Definitely not the sort of thing I’d sip neat. Been trying to find a cocktail that it works in, as it seems like it would be suited for that – but alas, a mixologist I am not.

Rating: Probably Pass/Average

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Alipus San Juan del Rio Mezcal

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Alipus San Juan del Rio Mezcal

47.5% ABV
$50-$60
Website
Alipus San Juan Del Rio Mezcal

What the Producer Says

Alipús Mezcal is a gift born from the soul of our land. It captivates us with its various presentations, each one a unique expression connecting us to the families that create their particular elixir for the delightful enjoyment of the world. Alipús Mezcal is an open invitation to Mexico as your second home.

Founded in 1999, Alipús started out as an alternative project supported by Los Danzantes Distillery. The idea was to create a map of Oaxacan mezcals showing how the conditions where each is produced differentiates the final product, with distinct soils, waters and climates having a singular influence on the land where each mezcal is grown.

Alipús seeks to promote and develop awareness about traditional mezcal producers in Oaxaca – in particular about their knowledge and high-quality products. Current distribution and branding efforts have resulted in superlative reviews and increased economic development for traditional mezcal farmers where before there was very little.

100% maguey Espadín (Agave angustifolia Haw.)
Roasting: Stone-lined pit at ground level.
Milling: Millstone pulled by horse.
Fermentation: 2,500-liter pine vats.
Distillation: Discontinuous double distillation in copper stills.

TECHNICAL DETAILS
Master mezcaleros: Joel, René, Abelio Antonio Juan and Rodolfo Juan Juárez.
Soil: San Juan del Rio, Tlacolula, Oaxaca. Tierras blancas, poor in organic material, with stony, silt texture.
Palenque elevation: 1,125 MASL.
Altitude at which the maguey is planted: 1,250 to 1,700 MASL

TASTING NOTES:
Color: Clear.
Aroma: Caramel, roasted maguey, citrus, spices and herbs.
Palate: Herbal and mineral notes. Light, rugged flavors. Fresh acidity with medium lingering flavor.
Pairing: Enchiladas mineras, scrambled eggs, aged cheese, garnachas istmeñas (meat pies).

What Gary Says

DISCLAIMER: I’m a whisk(e)y enthusiast, and not familiar with Mezcal (so read at your own risk!)
Nose:  Earthy smokiness, edging on peaty, more vegetal with agave and grilled poblano peppers.
Palate:  Thick and viscous mouthfeel, sweet, earthy with a smokey bit of lime, tangerine and orange, pepper, subtle corn.
Finish:  Short in length, really dry with tobacco and roasted lime.
Comments:  My third and last of the three samples from the Flaviar Mezcal tasting box, and the most different of the three. More smoke and earthiness, less corn, more lime. Hard to pick if I liked this more than the Rey Campero Espadin Mezcal; this reminds me more of a peaty Scotch than a corn-distillate white dog. I really liked it. Really thick and viscous, like a nice non-chill filtered single malt. Last reminder –  given my inexperience in this category, I’m not comfortable assigning any different rating for these three. I enjoyed this one the most, but can’t really inform if it was a good, average, great example of the category – so will leave it as Stands Out. If anyone finds I’m short-changing any, that’s the reason why.

Rating: Stands Out

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