1 | Spirits | Page 135

"Pale amber pink color. Aromas of sweet berry and citrus pastry, floral hops, honey and spice follow through on a soft,silky entry to a dry-yet-fruity medium-to-full body with wintermint, mango custard, dried lavender, and herbal juniper and sweet spices on the gentle polished finish. Very nice." Gold Medal.

"The eaux-de-vie range in age from 10 to 70 years. Deep amber/chestnut brown hue. Nose is opulent, elegant and emits mature aromas of cheese-like rancio, black tea leaves, raisins and oak. In the mouth, this XO displays melded tastes of astringent oaky tannins, ripe grapes and toffee. Aftertaste offers parting sweet tastes of dark caramel and honey." 85-89 pts.

19.5%

All the elegance, balance, and depth one would expect in a world class brandy. The apple character is balanced by an undercurrent of spice (mulling spice, light black pepper) for backbone and a rounded sweetness for depth. Could be the best Calvados we've ever had.

"Vibrant egg nog custard and soufflé aromas follow through on a lightly syrupy entry to a sweet, glycerous medium-to-full body with dense peppery spice accents. Finishes with a long, tongue-warming spicy fade. Interesting and richly flavored."

Unbelievable quality for the price. Outscored Delamain Pale and Dry, Martell Cordon Bleu, and four other noted cognacs in expert blind tastings (1989). Based on our first (1987) release,Lot 27 is no longer the same animal. We have learned a lot about when to harvest, how to vinify, how to distill, how to blend. Plus, we have an older cellar. We still like the youthful fruit of 5-year-old brandies (apple and pear), but we also like the deeper flavors that come from more age, trending towards plum/apricot. The blend is very rich, with 10-year-old Colombard, some Riesling, and a touch of Zinfandel. There is also a solera enrichment: Joe Corley rolls over earlier lots into the ongoing blends.