Really quite nice

Highly Recommended 89 /100

At the store I work at there was a recent price markdown on the Paulet VSOP. I have had the VS and I thought it was pretty layered and spicy, but I hadn't tried their VSOP or XO yet. With that price markdown, I thought, now was the chance -- Paulet is listed under one of the houses in the Bartender's Black Book as one of the best Cognac producers, and I don't take that too lightly. I ended up telling some customers about how crazy it was that this one had gotten marked down in price, and they decided to take a chance on it. I was considering getting it before, but after those customers came back in and said this was their new favorite, getting another bottle, I decided then and there I'd have to snag a bottle for myself too.

I love richly layered complex liquors of any kind -- Paulet really delivers in the VSOP, I think. I'm a massive fan of any floral component in a spirit and this VSOP gives you beautiful white flower notes, light Madagascar vanilla on the nose, and some peach kisses.

On the palate, you're given a bouquet of those same floral notes as well as lovely dried apricot and nectarine, a little Fiji apple, vanilla, and a good allspice in the finish. The finish certainly leans more baking spice than anything, not too heavy on cinnamon -- like I said, mostly allspice, maybe a touch of clove?

The fruit in this is spectacular, it's very light and delicious. It's very smooth as well, fantastically made VSOP. My only regret is that I can't find proof that Paulet still operates as a distillery or who makes it. It's said that Paulet has stopped making cognacs in the past ten years. I can easily see why those customers came back for a second bottle. If I had finished the whole bottle in a night I would come back for a second one too.

Excellent quality for those looking to get into nicer VSOPs and branch out of mainline producers. Especially if all you've tried so far are the baseline Remy Martins, Hennessys, Martells, and Courvoisiers -- try a Paulet.