Rome de Bellegarde XO Cognac
Brilliant, deep golden to copper color. The aromatics are lush and complex with generous waves of roasted orchard fruits with delicate accents of brown baking spices and vanilla. The palate echoes the nose delivering a beautiful, fruit-driven core with waves of caramel, spice, oak, and creamy vanilla fudge. Full-bodied with ideal balance as the vibrant spice notes with bright acidity leave you wanting the next sip. $3900 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 2000 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant copper to amber color. The aromatics are complex, beautiful, and a bit unexpected with intense wild honey notes in the lead supported by Christmas fruit cake, cinnamon, Nutella, and baked apples. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a rich, fruit-driven core with waves of baking spices, walnut toffee, and cashew butter with hints of ginger. Ideally balanced with great length and weight. $90 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1990 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant amber color. The nose is wonderfully complex offering beautiful scents of orange peel, baked orchard fruits, sweet dates, honey, brown baking spices, and hints of a sweet turf fire. The palate echoes the nose delivering the promise of the nose in three dimensions with ripe, sweet peach and apple in the lead supported by notes of five spice, candied ginger, cardamon, and oak. The flavors linger on the palate for minutes. Lush and rich with perfect balance displaying impeccable grace with power. We reviewed Christian Drouin's 1990 vintage a decade ago and loved it. It has only risen in stature since 2010. $180 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1980 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is vibrant with the scents of rich, baked apples and sweet red fruits supported by waves of caramel, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet cigar tobacco, oak, and hints of vanilla. The palate is equally rich and decadent with loads of baking spice flavors that elevate the rich fruit finishing with spicy ginger, black pepper, and oak notes. Ideally balanced with incredible length and weight contrasted by bright acidity and peppery accents. We tasted the 1980 vintage 10 years ago and this release, with 10 more years in cask (giving more red fruit accents) this lovely Calvados has vastly improved. $350 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1970 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Deep, brilliant copper/amber color. The nose deftly marries the scents of rich, baked apple and sweet caramel contrasted by vibrant cider notes with accents of cinnamon, vanilla, caramel, red currant, and clove. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich and decadent apple-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, toffee, red fruits, and rich vanilla cream. Ideally balanced with great length and weight. We tasted this great Calvados 10 years younger and it was great and continues to be a great Vintage Calvados. $499 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin XO Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant golden to copper color. The aromatics are amazingly fresh and vibrant with scents of fresh-pressed apple and cider, roasted apples, baked stone fruits, toasted almonds, brown baking spices, and a splash of vanilla. The palate is equally youthful and mature delivering layers of ripe fruit, spice, mineral, a fine salinity, and trailing floral notes, with cinnamon heat, vanilla bean, and oak on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with a vibrant texture offering layers of ripe fruit and generous portions of spice, vanilla, and oak. $95 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Sélection Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, golden straw color. The nose is greeted with bright fruit, fresh cider notes with strong hints of pear, supporting notes of wood, subtle brown baking spice accents, and hints of citrus. The palate totally agrees with the aromatics delivering a generous and vibrant apple and pear-focused core with waves of citrus, spice, and mineral. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and a soft, lingering apple cider note. $35 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin Le Gin
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully aromatic with waves of bright juniper supported by generous notes of lemon zest, rose, blanched almonds, cardamon, and hints of vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose delivering a vibrant botanical-driven core with bright citrus flavors in the lead supported by ginger with hints of brown baking spices. Medium to full-bodied with ideal balance thanks to a bright note of acidity with a vibrant botanicals delivered in perfect measure on a backdrop of a silky, pure spirit. $45 – 4.5 Stars
Revanche Cognac
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, deep copper to mahogany color. The nose is delicate yet expressive with waves of ripe and baked orchard fruits supported by generous notes of baking spices, dark caramel, cacao nibs, and dried fruits. The palate confirms the nose delivering fruit-driven core with accents of spice, oak, pepper, and candied ginger on a creamy yet vibrant texture. Medium-bodied with ideal balance as the sharper spice notes and bright acidity bring vigor to each sip. $39.99 – 4.5 Stars
The Bitter Truth EXR Bitters
Deep mahogany color. The nose is filled with the scents of dried herbs, bark, stewed fruits, and citrus peel with burnt caramel. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, viscous herbaceous core with sweet and tart fruits akin to Amaro with accents of bitter seeds. Medium to full-bodied with a viscous core relying on bitterness to give a refreshing edge. $34.99 – 3.5 Stars
