Poli Distillerie PO' di Poli Aromatica Grappa
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose surely lives up to its name offering up fresh scents of lavender, rose water, wild flowers, pink peppercorns, pine cone, and earthy notes redolent of turmeric. The palate is in full agreement with the nose while being remarkably delicate and mildly viscous with a rich floral core and flanking notes of pepper, ginger, and rose water rising on the finish. Medium-bodied with a rich, semi-viscous core that remains very vibrant offering perfect balance with a generous dose of bright acidity. $70 – 5 Stars
Nardini Aquavite di Vinaccia Bianca Grappa
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are wonderfully floral and complex intertwining fresh flowers with dried flowers, hints of tea and honey add accents with subtle notes of earth. Rich, dense, and viscous with flavors of citrus, jasmine tea, blanched almonds, wild flower honey, and loads of savory herbs that become bitter in all the right ways on the finish. Full-bodied with layers of intense flavors (aided by the higher proof) and a silky, viscous core that is kept clean with a generous splash of acidity. $53 – 4.5 Stars
Christian Drouin Réserve des Fiefs Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is filled with the vibrant scents of ripe and baked apples, with hints of fermenting skins, wild flowers, stone fruits, and mineral. The palate is in full agreement with the nose adding fresh, rich apple juice notes with accents of cinnamon, nutmeg, and a hint of earth and oak. Medium-bodied with a well-proportioned palate and lingering apple and spice notes. $69.99 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin XO Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are amazingly fresh and vibrant with scents of fresh apple juice, candied apples, baked stone fruits, toasted almonds, brown baking spices, and a splash of vanilla. The palate is equally youthful delivering layers of fruit, spice, mineral, and 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. $124.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1986 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is wonderfully floral with wild honey, red cherry, candied ginger, and loads of baked apples, marzipan, and oak. The palate is in full accord delivering a rich apple core with cherry accents as the wood is a companion here, never trampling the complex flavors. Medium-bodied and amazingly delicate with ideal balance and long, lingering flavors. $217.99 – 5 Stars
Christian Drouin Vintage 1996 Calvados, Pays d’Auge
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are rich and dense with scents of wild honey, baked apples, caramel, red fruits, almonds, brown baking spices, and dried fruits (fruitcake like). The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering waves of fruit ranging from plum, red berries, apricot, and of course apple with hints of honeycomb, nutmeg, and oak. Medium to full-bodied with intense waves of fruit and spice while maintaining a very pleasing balance. $163.99 – 4 Stars
Christian Drouin Blanche de Normande Eau-de-Vie-de-Cidre
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. Incredibly fresh with ripe, crisp apple and pear, sweet fresh press juice, and hints of citrus. The palate carries the nose being decidedly sweeter allowing it to fill the mouth with ripe apple and pear flavors and to linger on for minutes. Medium-bodied with rich fruit and crisp acidity that keeps it perfectly balanced. $48.99 – 4.5 Stars
E&J VS American Brandy
Brilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics reveal a very fruity, vinous Brandy with loads of brown baking spices with vanilla and cinnamon in the lead followed by dried red and black fruits and sweet toffee. The palate is in full agreement with the nose delivering a lush but vibrant marriage of fruit, spice, and sweet oak. Medium-bodied with ideal balance and long, lingering flavors of spice and dried fruits. $10.99 – 3.5 Stars
E&J VSOP Superior Reserve American Brandy
Brilliant, crystal clear. The nose is incredibly fragrant with the scents of baked apples and dried red cherries supported by a generous dose of brown baking spices, oak, fruitcake, and vanilla bean. The palate is in full accord with the nose delivering a warming fruit-driven core with loads of flanking brown spices, oak, and a sweet cola nut note rising on the finish. Medium to full-bodied with layers of fruit and spice in perfect balance. $12.99 – 4 Stars
E&J XO Extra Smooth American Brandy
See the Full BevX Featured Review & Beverage of the WeekBrilliant, crystal clear. The aromatics are so complex and inviting offering scents of roasted nuts, old leather, dense fruitcake, caramel, baked apple, vanilla bean, and sweet oak. The palate echoes the aromatics in every respect delivering a rich and impossibly silky fruit-driven core with supporting spice, toffee, caramel, and oak notes that mingle and evolve with each sip. Medium to full-bodied with perfect balance and proportions as each generous sip begs for the next. $15.99 – 5 Stars
