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André Petit VSOP Cognac

Highly Recommended 85 /100

see 5 reviews

Cognac age
VSOP
Growth area
Bons Bois
Bottle size
700ml
Age (minimum)
8
ABV
40%
Age (maximum)
10

John G.

Reviews written: 14 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 78

Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews

Bio:

Regular contributor to Malt Review. WSET Spirits Level 2 Enthusiastic about all spirits but for vodka. Whisky is my 1st love but I'm currently enjoying my affair with rum, brandy and Mezcal.

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An outstanding VSOP

Highly Recommended 85 /100

For transparency, I didn't buy a full bottle of this. But I tried this through the Andre Petit 200ml sample set of the VS, VSOP and XO.

Color: Black tea

On the nose: No heat but I get that worm tub roughness. Initially, I get light tastes of coconut husk, coconut sugar syrup and cinnamon. There are more pronounced aromas of almonds with skin, orgeat, toffee, vanilla, milk chocolate and honey. At the end are subtle flashes of cloves, nutmeg and lavender.

In the mouth: Tasty. Like on the nose, I get no heat but there’s this evident worm tub roughness. I get light to medium tastes of vanilla, orgeat, almonds with skin, toffee, honey, coconut sugar syrup, cinnamon syrup and chocolate milk. They rotate almost endlessly. Lasting a long time.

Conclusion: This is probably the best VSOP Cognac I’ve had yet. It’s so easy to drink yet it has a complexity I haven't tasted in other VSOPs. The extra flavor and complexity comes from the fact that this VSOP is at least 8 years old. Compared this to other VSOPs who use the minimum of 4. But I don't think that's the only reason. I still have more to learn about Cognac.

More of this please.

Being able to sense a little of the worm tub roughness also makes me guess there’s no boise in this. Making me think this a Cognac with no additives aside from water.

Flavour

Wood 7/10

Spice 6/10

Fruit 6/10

Flower 6/10

Bottle / Package Design 3/5

Where is the Love? Ordinary Nice Beautiful A sight to be seen!

Value for Money 5/5

Overpriced Low Average Bargain Steal

Tasting

Nose

What aromas do you get when you sniff the Cognac? Do you get hints of fruits or flowers - perhaps it's sweet? Is it intense or rather flat - and most importantly, is the nose coherent to taste and finish? The nose is the most important part when tasting Cognac.

20/25

Mouth

A small sip: Allow your taste buds in the various areas of your mouth to distinguish the different flavours. This part of cognac tasting is described as ‘the palate’. Don’t just swallow it down; allow the liquid to touch all the regions of the mouth. Doing this is necessary as the taste buds pick up contrasting flavours in the different areas of the mouth; on the tip of your tongue to the sides, for example. Take a tiny sip to prep your palate for the sensory experience to come. Take a second larger sip, and gently roll the cognac around, etting it come into contact with every corner of your mouth. Focus on the perceived textural sensations. Are the sensations round and rich or fresh and elegant? Is the overall mouthfeel intense, balanced, disjointed, or lacking presence? In short, how does the cognac feel in your mouth?

17/20

Taste

Quite simply, what do you taste as you gently roll the cognac around in your mouth? Pay close attention to any flavors of fruits, flowers, oak, and spices - or a complex combination of those elements. Are the flavors cohesive with the Nose and the Mouth, giving a sense of balance and complexity?

22/25

Finish

The ‘finish’ is the experience you get after you’ve swallowed the cognac. What flavours can you detect? Is it a flat or rough finish and rather sharp, or is it a slight 'punch' you like? How long does the finish last? Also think about overall balance: How does the finish compare to nose and taste?

18/20

Overall Impression

Consider the Nose, Mouth, Taste, and Finish simultaneously - the cognac as a whole. Is there cohesion between the four categories, or does the cognac shine in some areas and appear dull in others? Quite simply, is the memory from the tasting experience one that will last your lifetime; is the memory good but nothing extraordinary; or is the cognac’s impact entirely forgettable?

8/10

Total: 85/100

  • 80-84: Recommended
  • 85-89: Highly Recommended
  • 90-95: Exceptional
  • 96-100: Superlative
Flat Acceptable Fine Excellent Ethereal Thin & weak Disjointed Balanced Exquisite Bland Ordinary Good Excellent Spectacular Non-existent, or rough Acceptable Good Memorable Endless Uninspiring, or rough Ordinary Good Excellent Memorable
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