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Kelt XO Tour du Monde Grande Champagne Cognac
73 /100
- Cognac age
- XO
- Growth area
- Grande Champagne
- Bottle size
- 700ml
- ABV
- 40%
JK
Reviews written: 4 (see reviews)
Average Score given: 83
Review Overview: Best & Most rated, All Reviewers & Reviews
Bio:
I live on the east coast. Another blue collar guy, with an affinity for good tequila and rum. I am, by no means, an expert. At best an enthusiast with a lingering memory of my father letting me try a small shot of something he said I would remember for the rest of my life. Cognac.... he wasn't wrong entirely. I was only 11 or 12 at the time and have no idea what kind it was beyond it being shaped similar to a wine bottle. I was far too young to appreciate it. When I tried a sip I thought I had ingested napalm but there was something else there also. An aftertaste maybe sort of like raisins that lingered for a bit. I didn't hate it..... Lot's of Cognac out there, the few I have tried have been intriguing. Looking forward to new discoveries.
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Kelt XO Tour du Monde
45 /100
I don't have a lot to compare it to other than Ferrand S.D.A and Hennessy XO for the most part. I picked up a bottle out of curiosity. The ocean aging interested me I suppose. After having tried it I'm unsure what its purpose is. Simulating early landed cognacs?
Perhaps my palate isn't developed or refined enough but it seemed.... a little rough? or maybe sort of young? The thing that stands out for me is a good bit of burn, reminiscent of my first experience but not quite as intense. It did have a nice range of aromas but didn't seem to translate to the taste for me. I can't say that of Hennessy XO. It is vastly different for me by comparison. Not everyone thinks highly of Hennessy XO apparently as I've read in some reviews but I found it enjoyable enough. It's smooth,aromatic, no burn and I can taste many different flavors.
I will admit I do like Kelt in my coffee in the mornings occasionally.
I think, to be fair, even though my rating is low I may need to revisit this one once I get a few more behind me and hopefully improve my palate. But for now it just didn't do it for me.
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.
16/25
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.
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?
10/20
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?
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
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?
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?
5/20
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?
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?
1/10
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?
Total: 45/100
- 80-84: Recommended
- 85-89: Highly Recommended
- 90-95: Exceptional
- 96-100: Superlative