Leopold Gourmel Age des Fleurs 15 Years Old Cognac
Brilliant copper color. The nose is filled with scents of wild flowers, rich caramel, and vanilla cream with hints of sweet oak. The palate confirms the nose with notes of cinnamon, pepper, and cloves, with dried fruit flavors and a subtle hint of orange. The texture is rich and oily with ideal balance and a long, silky finish. $150 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin Selection Calvados
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is greeted with bright fruit, fresh cider notes with strong hints of pear, supporting/secondary notes of wood, subtle brown baking spice accents, and hints of citrus. The palate totally agrees with the aromatics delivering a generous and vibrant fruit-focused core with waves of citrus, spice, and mineral. Medium-bodied with perfect balance and a soft, lingering apple cider note. $39.99 – 4 Stars
Vermont Spirits No. 14 Apple Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, golden amber color. The nose is filled with the scents of baked apples with accents of charred oak, butterscotch, nutmeg, and vanilla bean. The palate echoes the nose delivering a rich, apple-driven core with waves of brown baking spices, pepper, oak, and ginger. Medium-bodied with bright fruit supported by loads of oak, spice, and sharp ginger notes that add shape and intrigue. $52.99 – 4 Stars
Singani 63 Singani Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekCrystal clear. The aromatics are nothing short of enchanting with scents of frangipani and hibiscus flowers with accents of sandalwood, citrus zest, and hints of fresh ginger. The palate echoes the nose delivering a wonderfully delicate floral explosion with flanking notes of citrus and lemongrass with hints of galangal. Medium-bodied and wonderfully proportioned with a fine, delicate touch and perfect balance thanks a to vibrant dose of acidity. $29.99 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin XO Calvados, Pays d’Auge
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant golden to copper color. The aromatics are amazingly fresh and vibrant with scents of fresh apple juice and cider, caramelized 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 layers of ripe fruit and generous portions of spice, vanilla, and oak. $126.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Hors D'age Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, rich amber color. The nose reveals a perfect balance of rich, baked apples, brown baking spices, earth, and oak. The most striking aspect is its absolute harmony. The palate echoes the nose delivering seamless integration of fruit, spice, and oak with subtle accents of apple, peel, mineral, and vanilla bean with hints of chocolate. Medium to full-bodied displaying perfect balance as the lush fruit and spice are foiled by bright acidity and oak offering structure and nuance. $159.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin 1967 Calvados
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is complex while surprisingly assertive showing its muscular single distillation with charming notes of ripe fruit with waves of generous spice notes (clove and cinnamon in the lead). The palate confirms the nose in every way featuring the rustic, single-distilled fruit with spicy cask notes and a delicate note of rancio and a pronounced oaky finish. Full-bodied while quite elegant with ideal balance and incredible length. $476.37 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin 1977 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, deep mahogany color. The concentrated fruit notes marry seamlessly with the Sherry casks creating a decadent blanket of fruit and spice flavors with accents of wild flowers, caramel, and nutmeg. The palate equals the nose delivering a lush and spicy fruit-driven core with waves of caramel, toffee, marzipan, and dense dried fruits with Sherry accents. This full-bodied beauty is perfectly balanced with a bright, fresh acidity that frames the rich fruit and Sherry flavors. $294.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin 1987 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, deep amber color. The nose is wonderfully expressive with dense, youthful fruit in the lead supported by scents of orange marmalade and candied orange peel with dried red fruits and waves of brown baking spices. The palate fully concurs with the decadent nose delivering a rich, fruit-driven core that is flanked by spice, oak, and subtle earth tones that linger for minutes. Full-bodied with ideal balance with bright acidity to match the dense fruit and a surprising firm grip of tannins on the finish. $207.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin 1997 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, deep amber color. The aromatics are quite fresh and youthful with ripe, whole apples in the lead supported by scents of bright citrus, spring flowers, and blanched nuts with hints of oak and allspice. The palate echoes the nose delivering a bright and ripe fruit-driven core with the Pommeau influence being quite evident. The flavors linger on with spice notes of allspice and cinnamon rising with a dose of rancio on the finish. Medium to full-bodied displaying perfect balance as the rich fruit and spice are equaled by bright acidity and oak. $163.99 – 4.5 Stars
