After Hours Alcohol Review of Cognac D'Ussé VSOP

Notes of tasting

Color : Shiny copper, with a orange tint. Most cognacs use caramel coloring; if this is the case here, it is used with great taste.

Nose: Dried fruits , especially fig, are the star of the show, with caramel, honey and just a hint of polish among the secondary flavors.

Stuffy : Sweet notes of dried fig and date, followed by a very round sweetness, somewhat reminiscent of a port . Dries out a bit towards the finish, with a woody spice that makes its presence felt. Quite velvety on the tongue; it's a cognac that caresses the taste buds.

Final: A light kick drunk on the swallow, a with a pleasant medium to long afterglow of dried fruits and oak

Our opinion

D'Ussé is best known for its distinctive chunky bottle, which features the Cross of Lorraine, a French symbol that represents honor, courage and perseverance. It's also on the radar thanks to the co-founder of the brand, Shawn Carter, better known as Jay-Z. But even if it only exists since 2012, the origin of the cognac goes back much further. It is partly matured at Château de Cognac, one of the oldest houses in the region, and the blend is supervised by long-time cellar master Michel Casavecchia.

The word 'smooth' is loaded in the spirit world. Many more occasional drinkers, or those new to pure alcohol, are looking for smoothness – meaning that 'a spirit is easy to drink, with a smooth and relatively straightforward flavor profile and little to no alcohol on the finish – while more experienced drinkers may tend to court more challenging and intense spirits. D'Ussé's VSOP expression is definitely for lovers of sweetness. It has complexity if you're looking for it, but for those who want something pleasant to sip without thinking too much about it, this cognac does the trick. It also makes a nice Sidecar or Old square .