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Hennessy VSOP Privilege Cognac

70 /100

see 6 reviews

Cognac age
VSOP
Growth area
Blend
Bottle size
700ml
ABV
40%

Mary

Reviews written: 14 (see reviews)

Average Score given: 71

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

Bio:

- wine and cognac lover -

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Super spice like pepper!

47 /100

Super spicy... much more than I can swallow easily...

Its aromas are better than its VS. Bolder and more intense taste of oak and clove, but on the nose, it is still less than expected.

I got some fruit notes but all were covered by pepper and spice, which I feel is too much.
And when I mixed it with a bit of water, it got better for spice but overall taste was dropped too... unfortunately.

Drink neat? For me, it might be a little hard to try again.
Mix with something else? Have to try and I believe it might be better.

The best thing? I've bought only a small bottle!

Tags

  • Clove
  • Dried Apricot
  • Fresh Fig
  • Oak
  • Pepper
  • Spices
  • Wood

Flavour

Sweetness

very dry / not sweet very smooth / very sweet

very smooth very dry
very sweet not sweet

Wood 8/10

Spice 10/10

Fruit 4/10

Flower 2/10

Bottle / Package Design 2/5

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

Value for Money 1/5

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.

12/25

True to category
Array of smells
Intensity of smells
Balance of smells
Presence of ethanol

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?

9/20

1st impression
Body
Texture
Alcohol level

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?

13/25

True to category
Complexity of tastes
Distinctiveness of tastes
Intensity of tastes
Balance of tastes

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?

10/20

Flavours
Length
Power / “Smooth”
Balance

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?

3/10

Total: 47/100

  • 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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