WineBoard - Cognac, Armagnac & Brandy

1906 Gaston BRIAND Grande Fine Champagne Cognac Domaine de la Voûte

Mon, 10 Oct 2016 15:47:56 +0000

This is a singular cognac, narrow in breadth, and simply breathtaking. Smell this side by side against a contemporary XO and the difference is obvious. The nose of this cognac chases racio like the love it its life, strong, passionate and lingering, there is nothing subtle about. Having said that, it is an impeccably balanced cognac, good texture, lovely warmth, and perhaps the only shortfall, a finish that is slightly clipped, but the lingers like a sensual touch if but only in the memory.

1924 Maderia

Fri, 03 Apr 2015 01:35:22 +0000

This was a bottle I bought in the late 50s. Opened for my 89th and my Grand-Daughters 36th. Posted on the sucker somewhere but for the life of Moi' 'kaint find the sucker. Was a real revelation. WW

eau de vie from Elderberries? Wow.

Fri, 18 Apr 2014 01:19:50 +0000

You know, every once in awhile I like to have a scotch, a grappa or, most recently, an Eau de Vie from http://www.wyldewoodcellars.com/ in Kansas. I'm not even sure it is commercially available because the bottle he sent me has a whole different nomenclature, -Hello- desert wine, but I like it, it is definitely Elderberry. I can literally smell and taste Elderberries. It's amazing. This is some of the more interesting stuff "not on the market today". If you contact the winery and they "don't know what you're talking about, contact me. I can see that you get to try it. Now here's the catch. It's a brand new product and the Kind Dr. Brewer needs a name for it. He will probably send it if, in your request, you mention "Name That Wonderful Juice"

Green Spot is in!!!

Wed, 12 Feb 2014 22:05:20 +0000

Irish whisky is one of my weaknesses, after single malt Scotch. Green Spot is one I've had very rarely - usually when a customer who's been able to snag a bottle in Ireland or Canada took pity on my poor soul and brought in a wee dram. Well, now we can get it here in the States and I made sure we had a goodly supply on hand. Brought in 2 cases last week, so now I have my very own bottle!!! Mike, you would love this one just as you liked my recco on Laddie 10. BTW, are you going to the annual whisk(e)y event at Julio's on 2/23? I am, of course. Ryan Maloney told me Green Spot will be open there.

Hunxiaqiudong, 52% ABV

Tue, 11 Feb 2014 19:43:47 +0000

This is a Chinese liquor that a friend brought over as a replacement for the other rice liquor.

This is something very very different. It's overtly fruity, pineapple, coconut, very lush, very smooth, high in alcohol but not hot.

Frankly not sure if I like this or not but it is different.

Mike

The Laddie Ten - oh my!!!

Sat, 23 Feb 2013 20:31:57 +0000

This is awesome Scotch!! Bruicladdich doesn't peat their product, unlike all the other Islay Scotches, and that's unusual because even some Highlands are peated to some degree. Anyway, to The Laddie Ten. It is incredibly smooth, even viscous feeling. There are copious honey notes with an underlying smokiness, and a minor hint of vanilla. The finish has some iodine, which is typical of all Islay Scotches. This is probably the best Scotch I've had in years.

Mike - Try this tomorrow at Julio's. I promise you'll love it. BTW, Julio's price is $61.99, ours is $39.99. So, if you like it enough to want to buy it, be sure to come to Warehouse.

Maison Brillet Grande Champagne Tres Rare Heritage "Brut de Fut" Grande Champagne

Mon, 17 Dec 2012 16:49:30 +0000

O M G......

A completely dry and confident Cognac, not hiding behind caramels and other substitutes. Rancio heaven, brush, forest earth, super texture on the tongue. It is lightfooted, super nose, a bit nutty, spicy, super complex, I love it!...save for the price.
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KC, if you see the photo of the cognac in the 1990 Droulhin Grd Ech post, you'll understand why I have difficulty keeping scotch in my house with these guys around......

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23 Y.O. Capa Zapata Rum

Sat, 17 Mar 2012 02:46:34 +0000

Deep Caramel in color but suspect that's where most of the caramel nose and sweetness comes from. Smooth, sweet, with a bit of heat surfacing, but not particularly long nor interesting. Kinda like mixing a twix in your mouth with some young rum.

Mannochmore 9 yo SM SC

Mon, 23 Jan 2012 08:48:37 +0000

A fine Highland malt, bottled at 61.9% alc/vol.... a pale amber color and biting nose, bites more seriously on the tongue. Tamed by two fingers of Pelligrino sparkling water. Have been nipping at it for over a week now at the rate of one small dram after dinner and becoming very fond of it. Somewhere in the neighborhood of $100 +/-.

Don't swig this stuff then decide to plow the south forty, or your place will look like a gang of feral hogs have worked it over!

Jack Daniels Black, Single Barrel

Wed, 28 Dec 2011 10:52:19 +0000

Was introduced to this by the host of a Christmas party in early December.... was pouring wines to pair with smoked beef tenderloin (all lesser Bordeaux) when he offered this as a pre-dinner libation. Was immediately struck by its clean unaltered profile on the nose and palate, completely unlike a blended whisky.

Had enjoyed JD Black for some time years ago (was my first drink on home soil while waiting at SeaTac for the flight home in Nov '68, newly out of the weeds of 'Nam; three hours and half a bottle later, needed the help of a kindly stew to even find the boarding gate). Over the years, taste had moved on to Irish whiskies (Jameson's, Tullamore Dew, Bushmill's) before allowing wines, in the background since '62, to assume a more prominent place at the table for their food-friendliness. Now in my dotage, have rediscovered the joys of quality whisky.

Bought a bottle last week and took to share with son-in-law in celebrating the arrival last week of his son, my grandson. We both thoroughly enjoyed it! So I left the bottle with him and picked up another today. It's 94 proof and about $40 per, worth every penny. Highly recommend it.

It goes down too easily.... off to get another.

Royal Brackla 12 yo single cask

Mon, 28 Nov 2011 09:20:40 +0000

Aged in an ex-bourbon cask, this one is a very pale amber and quite spicey and gives a sharp bite on the tongue, even when reduced by branch water. Very nice, though, and improves in the glass. 59.1% alc/vol. Normally used as a component in Dewar's and some blends of Johnnie Walker.

Les Domaines Grassa Bas-Armagnac "Reserve"

Fri, 25 Nov 2011 10:09:31 +0000

This is a really nice inexpensive (<$40) armagnac. It doesn't have a ton of character, as might be expected from the vague "reserve" label and the price, but it's nice and mellow, with enough dried fruit and flowers to keep it interesting. Much better than any Armagnac I've had at the price, and comparable to some of the best value Cognac's (Pierre Ferrand Ambre, for instance). Amazing? No. Super value? Yes.

Bowmore 20 yo single cask

Tue, 22 Nov 2011 10:27:32 +0000

Whew! Unique nose, what some have described as FWP - French whore perfume. Not being familiar with the aroma of a French hooker, smells to me more like an oak stump that's been burned in a brush fire.... maybe with a skunk stuck in the roots as it roasted.

An Islay malt from an 18th century distillery....definitely improving with each sip. All of 55.8% alc/vol... must avoid operating machinery any more lethal than a butter knife.... John Deere, you're on your own. Nice rich brown color, darker than most malts I've tried..... might need further examination with a second wee dram... will be sure to temper with a splash of Peligrino....little Miss Fifi is looking a whole lot better!

Glen Moray SMSC 15 yo

Sat, 12 Nov 2011 02:38:02 +0000

Another of the new-member samples from the society mentioned elsewhere.

Now this is more like it! Wonderful honeyed spice on the nose and up front, silky smooth on the palate with a drying finish. Labeled 58% alc/vol. Easy does it with a wee splash of branch water, don't overdo it, just cut the 116 proof alkie a skosh. Wunnerful wunnerful (hic). Ordered a full-sized bottle at the gimme price of only 14 arms and three legs.

Springbank 13 yo SMSC

Fri, 11 Nov 2011 02:44:50 +0000

Nice pale golden color BUT THE NOSE!! Holy cow! Would make a powerful antiseptic if you lost a knife-fight on a Saturday night. Much more of the same on the palate, powerful, almost drain-cleaner caliber. Not my cuppa but the alkie is OK at 51.4% alc/vol, maybe a little light for a single malt single cask. One of the samples from the Scotch Malt Whisky Society membership kit.

Will probably palm this off on the next poor unsuspecting slug who darkens my door and asks, "Hey, you got any scotch?"