Laird's Applejack86 Apple Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, bronze to amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of baked apples with accents of sweet, charred oak, caramel, vanilla fudge, and hints of five-spice. The palate confirms the nose delivering a rich yet sprite, apple-driven core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, sweet caramel, oak, and cinnamon. Full-bodied with sweet fruit supported by a generous dose of spice and caramel balanced with bright acidity. This is an American classic and it's as good as ever. $24.99 – 4 Stars
Gonzalez Byass Lepanto Solera Gran Reserva Brandy de Jerez
Brilliant, beautiful amber color with hints of orange. The aromatics are quite complex while subtle with scents of toffee, candied orange peel, Sherry, sultanas, vanilla, and hints of Marcona almonds. The palate echoes the nose delivering a generous, unctuous caramel and fruit core with layers of roasted nuts, nutmeg, nut, citrus, brown butter, and hints of clove. Full-bodied with complex layers of fruit, caramel, spice, presented with a silky texture. Aged in solera with an average age of this Brandy being 12 years. $54.99 – 4.5 Stars
Gonzalez Byass Lepanto O.V. Brandy de Jerez
Brilliant, beautiful amber color. The nose is quite elegant and complex, offering scents of dried orchard fruits with roasted hazelnut, honey, nougat, orange peel, and brown baking spices. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a generous yet restrained nut and spice-driven core with waves of fruit, oak, and decadent dry Sherry accents. Full-bodied presenting a very sophisticated, dry style that shows off the old Brandies and the skill of the master blender. The O.V. represents Oloroso Viejo (old) signaling its origin from Oloroso Sherry. Aged in solera with an average age of this Brandy being 15 years. $69.99 – 5 Stars
Gonzalez Byass Lepanto P.X. Brandy de Jerez
Brilliant, beautiful dark amber color. The aromatics offer incredibly rich and decadent raisins, figs, and dates that are swimming in thick honey and sweet Sherry. The palate echoes the nose delivering a luxurious fruit-driven core with supporting notes of treacle, spice cake, caramel, liquid toffee, with subtle hints of dark chocolate. Full-bodied and absolutely extravagant delivering a sumptuous texture with incredible length that somehow never becomes too sweet. The P.X. represents Pedro Ximenez signaling its origin from lavish Pedro Ximenez Sherry. Aged in solera with an average age of this Brandy being 15 years. $69.99 – 5 Stars
NYAK VS Cognac
Brilliant amber color. The nose is beautiful offering waves of ripe pear and aromatic grapes with supporting notes of sweet oak, honey, pink peppercorns, and vanilla beans. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering an orchard fruit-focused core with waves of buttery toffee, caramel, and hints of ginger biscuits. Ideally balanced with fruit and spice in perfect proportions and a generous dose of bright acidity. $32.99 – 4.5 Stars
Yebiga Bela Rakija
See the Full BevX Featured ReviewBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are profound and alluring led by ripe stone fruits with waves of forest floor, lavender, citrus zest, and wild flowers. The palate confirms the nose delivering a full expression of dark plum with generous spice notes including black pepper that rises on the finish. Medium-bodied and perfectly balanced with vibrant acidity ideally framing the ripe fruit. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
Laird's 10th Generation Bottled in Bond 5 Years Old Apple Brandy
Brilliant amber color. The aromatics are very generous featuring both baked apple and sweet, ripe apple juice with accents of toffee, caramel, kirsch, brown baking spice, vanilla bean, and charred oak barrels. The palate echoes the nose delivering a lush, apple-driven core with generous notes of caramel, roasted nuts, allspice, ginger biscuits, black pepper, and subtle campfire accents. Full-bodied with rich, sweet fruit supported by loads of spice and bright acidity giving perfect balance. A beautiful bottled-in-bond apple Brandy from Laird's. $41.99 – 4.5 Stars
Laird's Applejack Apple Brandy
Brilliant, bronze to amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of baked apples with accents of sweet, charred oak, caramel, vanilla fudge, and hints of five-spice. The palate confirms the nose delivering a rich yet sprite, apple-driven core with supporting notes of brown baking spices, sweet caramel, oak, and cinnamon. Full-bodied with sweet fruit supported by a generous dose of spice and caramel balanced with bright acidity. This is an American classic and it's as good as ever. $24.99 – 9 Stars
Capel Premium Pisco
Brilliant, crystal clear. Very floral with sweet tropical fruits filling the nose with accents of pepper. The palate confirms the nose delivering a sweet and fruity core that becomes drier on the finish with trailing grape, pepper, and sandalwood notes. Medium-bodied and a bit flabby with a viscous core and subtle citrus acid accents. $19.99 – 3 Stars
Grand Marnier Titanium Flavored Cognac
Deep, golden peach color with perfect clarity. The nose is filled with the scents of sweet, concentrated orange and tangerine with hints of baked peach, candied ginger, brown baking spices, and vanilla. On the palate the fruit notes are quite subtle with the spices taking center stage offering soft pepper notes with pithy citrus sensations. Full-bodied — despite the rich fruit notes found in the aromatics this spirit is totally dry. A full departure from the classic GM approach that seems to be built to be base of contemporary cocktails. $39.99 – 3 Stars
