Léopold Raffin XO Cognac

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.

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.

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?

Do you like this Cognac in terms of taste but also presentation? What about the story and identity of this Cognac? Does all this translate to the price or do you think it's a bit overpriced? If you think this totally justifies the price, make it 5 stars!