After Hours Alcohol Review Cognac Rémy Martin XO

Tasting Notes

Color : Deep red-copper with golden reflections

Nose : Fruity, sweet, soft and inviting, with light notes of grapes, peach and melon, as well as floral notes and hints of baking spices

Stuffy : Sweet but not cloying ante; very fruity, with dates and ripe grapes as protagonists, backed by honey, buttery pastries (like a hot cinnamon bun) and just a hint of lemon syrup. maple, with woody spices on the back of the mouth

Final: Pungent and fruity, with baking spices (cinnamon and clove predominate) and dry oak

Our opinion

Rémy Martin is named after the winemaker who started selling cognac under his own name in 1724. The brand as we know it today, one of the best known and most appreciated cognacs in the world, evolved throughout the 20th century. The first VSOP expression was launched in 1927. In 1948, the decision was made to use exclusively grapes from the Petite Champagne and Grand Champagne crus, which gave better quality eaux-de-vie. And s' it seems that Remy's iconic XO expression has been around forever, it was only launched relatively recently, in 1981.

Inferior XO cognacs (XOs, by law, must not contain water- life of less than 10 years) may taste like it's been in the barrel a little too long, with an astringent woodiness overwhelming other flavors. It's not the case here: it is a cognac that does not forget that it is distilled from fruit, namely a blend of 85% Grande Champagne and 15% Petite Champagne grape varieties, which gives it the Fine Champagne appellation. Although the eaux-de-vie are aged for at least a decade, and some no doubt much longer, the blend tastes a quite young and lively. The richness and full body, however, remind us that this is an XO.

The fruitiness is amplified by a buttery mouth and sumptuous that coats the tongue like velvet. It looks a bit like the expression Accord Royal 1738 by Rémy , which contains eaux-de-vie ranging from 4 to 20 years old, but the XO is richer and more complex. If the 1738 is a college level course on the making fine cognac, the XO is a master class.

This cognac would surely make a great cocktail, but it's so perfect that it seems a crime to mix it with anything other than a drink and your mouth. Rémy's stature as one of the greatest Cognac houses may discourage some who like to r esearch for lesser-known brands, but this is a cognac that anyone who appreciates the category will appreciate.