Brandy and Cognac

[SkinnyGoomba]

I'm not sure what inspired me to buy a set of Baccarat snifters, but I did, and in order to live with myself, I've decided to put them to good use. Which Cognac's and Brandy wines do you guys enjoy? Any recommendations of the obscure and rare?

I'm on the hunt for a decanter to dedicate to this as well, so I'm all in!

 

[scarphe]



I'm not sure what inspired me to buy a set of Baccarat snifters, but I did, and in order to live with myself, I've decided to put them to good use. Which Cognac's and Brandy wines do you guys enjoy? Any recommendations of the obscure and rare?
I'm on the hunt for a decanter to dedicate to this as well, so I'm all in!

price range?

you can rare and obscure at low prices as well but you can get extremely rare and obscure just based on price. i have bottles of calvados that are older than my grandfather. if you are interested in calvados.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

I have no idea about calvados, I like to keep them under $100/bottle.

 

[scarphe]



I have no idea about calvados, I like to keep them under $100/bottle.

i do not enjoy grape brandy but if it is anything similar to the pricing of calvados you may want to increase your budget by about 500% to get something like you are describing

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Not sure why all of my 'please rec' posts have been complete flops lately, but I think this one now makes for a flop.

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Got some recs in town, trying out Jean Fillioux at the moment, it's great in my inexperienced opinion.

 

[rwbenjey]

Currently am having a love affair with Pierre Ferrand cognacs. PF is a small house that produces amazing brandy at very appropriate prices. Recommended!

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Just bought the Pierre Ferrand 10yr Ambre after scouring the Internet for cognac reviews. I'm enjoying the Jean Fillioux COQ, but their La Pouyade was underwhelming.

 

[tom153]

Pierre Ferrand Cigar is good. I also enjoy Hennesy Privilege after it sits for about half an hour and mellows out.

 

[Tom Miler]

I have a blog on whisky in Polish and I am planning to write a review of the most important brands of cognac just for broader perspective. I was lucky enough to receive these two samples I have very high hopes for Richard and I hope it will not disappoint me! I can already tell that on the nose it is extremely intense, very very very rich in all kind of fruit and just soooooo lingering. When I nose it (not ever from a snifter but from the sample bottle) it stays around for a long time! Can't wait!

 

[SkinnyGoomba]

Keep posting Tom, you definetly put up your 'A' game!

 

[stevent]

I'm a big fan of Armagnac, nice drink to relax after a long day, been having a bit of trouble finding good ones in the US though

 

[Tom Miler]

I'm a big fan of Armagnac, nice drink to relax after a long day, been having a bit of trouble finding good ones in the US though

I got this one:

http://3.bp.blogspot.com/-qiJ1Yffnkno/Tvjig7Y314I/AAAAAAAAAF0/BJhBJcnKnxU/s1600/photo%2817%29.JPG

Cheap and acceptable.

 

[Tom Miler]

I think that also Google Translate could help with translating my tasting note:

http://www.milerpije.pl/alkohol-wieczoru-3-vieil-armagnac-dupeyron-v-s.html

 

[sinnedk]

I would like to reignite this thread and contribute some cognac/brandy knowledge. I have been in between scotch/whiskey for quiet a while now. However, lately i've been favoring cognac/brandy because it is sweeter.

i recently bought this:

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

the bottle is between a VSOP and an XO in the courvoisier brand. I found it to have a good aroma but not too sweet.

Normally if i decide to bring over a bottle to someones house i go with either a Hennesy VS or for a few dollars more Remy VSOP. Both of these cognacs are a good start for anyone who is trying to get into cognac. If you have another $20-$30 to spend then pop in and get s Hennesy VSOP, it is quiet sweet and smooth imo. I found the Remy X0 to be quiet excellent for the price (i think around $100 at costco). Thats my experience with French cognacs. I have many others but the mentioned brands are my go to.

Now to move along to Armenian Brandy...

If any of you have a russian store in your neighborhood then you are in luck because bevmo and regular liquer stores dont carry any of the brandys i will mention. Armenian brandy happens to be a bit sweeter than French but does not loose out on quality. That is why it is highly regarded in Europe and in the old soviet block. Here is some of my experience:
1. Ararat

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

pretty inexpensive bottle and very comparable to henessy vsop but it is a bit harsher.
2. Noy

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

this brandy was really sweet and surprisingly tasty (msrp $100)
3. Ararat 20

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

tried this at a wedding and it was pretty good as well
4. St Grigor (30 years i think)

Spoiler: Warning: Spoiler!

had this one 2x, the first time i enjoyed it a lot, the 2nd not as much, nor sure what happened here.

hope some one finds this useful...

@OP, the Armenian brandys shoudl satisfy your search for the "obscure"

FYI:
During the International Exhibition in Paris in 1900, the brandy received the Grand-Prix and the legal right to be called ‘cognac’, not ‘brandy’, following a blind degustation.[2]

Cheers