Courvoisier VSOP & XO Cognac
For the sake of review, I ought mention of what Cognac is. Cognac is a brandy, and brandy is distilled white wine (ugni blanc). In crude terms- heat it, then catch the vapors rising from it and let them cool to liquid and you have
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brandy. What differs brandy from cognac is that cognac is made in the Cognac region of France, and it is aged in barrels made from oak taken only from the forests of Limousin or Troncais.
Those familiar with the list of spirit reviews on AlcoholReviews.com will likely recall that I have reviewed Courvoisier's Millennium Cognac favorably. So let us move on to the VSOP. VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. This cognac is made from wines from two regions in the Champagne region of France (grande champagne and petite champagne)- thus, the "fine champagne" on the bottle) and is aged eight to twelve years. It is gold-caramel colored, and when nosed has hints of oak, cinnamon, and an alcohol ester that can water the eyes. Drink it in and you will taste oak and then a nutty finish. It is a little hot going down, and if swished about the mouth will prick the tongue. (Rating ***1/4)
Click here to order Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
Courvoisier XO is, of course, far better. It is, as the XO denotes, Extra Old, having been aged 20-35 years. This Cognac comes in a magnificent bottle, flat and looking like a combination of an upside-down leaf, a tear drop, and a perfume bottle. Sniff the XO and you won't encounter no prickly alcohol ester. Courvoisier XO noses and tastes of caramel, chocolate, nuts, oak, and orange. It slides down your throat as smoothly as water. It's quite good and a significant step above the VSOP, as it should be, considering that the VSOP retails for $30-$40 and the XO runs $140-$150. (Rating ****1/4)
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brandy. What differs brandy from cognac is that cognac is made in the Cognac region of France, and it is aged in barrels made from oak taken only from the forests of Limousin or Troncais.
Those familiar with the list of spirit reviews on AlcoholReviews.com will likely recall that I have reviewed Courvoisier's Millennium Cognac favorably. So let us move on to the VSOP. VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. This cognac is made from wines from two regions in the Champagne region of France (grande champagne and petite champagne)- thus, the "fine champagne" on the bottle) and is aged eight to twelve years. It is gold-caramel colored, and when nosed has hints of oak, cinnamon, and an alcohol ester that can water the eyes. Drink it in and you will taste oak and then a nutty finish. It is a little hot going down, and if swished about the mouth will prick the tongue. (Rating ***1/4)
Click here to order Courvoisier VSOP Cognac
Courvoisier XO is, of course, far better. It is, as the XO denotes, Extra Old, having been aged 20-35 years. This Cognac comes in a magnificent bottle, flat and looking like a combination of an upside-down leaf, a tear drop, and a perfume bottle. Sniff the XO and you won't encounter no prickly alcohol ester. Courvoisier XO noses and tastes of caramel, chocolate, nuts, oak, and orange. It slides down your throat as smoothly as water. It's quite good and a significant step above the VSOP, as it should be, considering that the VSOP retails for $30-$40 and the XO runs $140-$150. (Rating ****1/4)
posted by alexsakne at 5:27 AM
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