XO, Grande Champagne, 57.5% abv, Cognac barrel, 478 bottles, dram price E

The nose has pear, apples, lavender and hints of pine and eucalyptus. The mouthfeel is decent with a little cling. The body has pine, eucalyptus, pears, and blackberries. It builds nicely on the tongue as you drink it. The finish is merely a continuation of the body, but that's no bad thing.

Water brings out thin, short lived whorling that dissipates quickly. The nose gains some hints of old wood and ginger. The body also gains old wood but not the ginger - although that returns towards the finish.

A lovely easy drinker, but don't let that fool you into thinking it's not interesting.

4.5/5