Cognac is one of my many flaws when it comes to alcohol knowledge. I pretty much fell in love with all brandies I’ve tasted but I simply just haven’t gone through enough to have strong references when evaluating them. This is my first bottle & although not really known in Canada, it was a nice discovery. I will definitely keep on learning about this fantastic spirit.
Larsen Cognac VSOP
Distilled by Larsen Cognac
Type: VSOP Cognac
Region: Fins Bois & Petite Champagne, Cognac, France
Aging: VSOP, aged at least four years in Tronçais Oak
ABV: 40% (80 proof)
Grapes: Ugni Blanc
Colouring: N/A
Appearance: 7.5/10
The Cognac comes in a nice blue box, a perfect vessel to protect against harmful UV rays. The shape of the bottle is handy & has a good grip. It is topped with a cork, in order to prevent oxidation & evaporation. In the glass, the liquid is of a bright amber colour & when I tilt it, some medium slow viscous legs form from a diffuse crest. I don’T know what to expect from the visual, it looks sweet & oily.
Nose: 11/15
The nose is really fruity, more than I thought it would be. The aromas recall notes of apple juice, overripe pears, raisins, fresh figs & flamed orange peel. The barrel traits are in the background with some cinnamon, new leather, caramel & nutmeg. Throughout the nosing there was a sharp unpleasant ethanol bite. Apart from this the bouquet is simple & fruity.
Mouth: 9/15
In the mouth, it quickly loses some of its complexity due to the caramel taking a lot more space than before. I still get some figs, raisins & orchard fruit pie flavours as well as faint spices, although it has become quite subtle. The Cognac has an enjoyable mouthfeel with a medium body, a low acidity & rough tannins. However, the palate is quite sweet, throwing off the balance a little & the ethanol is again too sharp & unpleasant. I did like the nose with its approachable aspect, but it doesn’t follow up on the actual tasting. Far from being undrinkable I just think it is a bit too harsh & the complexity is lost to some bold fruity caramel character.
Finish: 8/10
The finish is long & most of the fruit makes a comeback. The ending leans more toward a balanced fruit-forward caramel, which is nice.
Overall: 71/100
Even if the palate is a bit disappointing, this Cognac is still a nice pour & remains relatively an easy sipper. The producer suggests it on the rocks, so maybe I’ll go ahead, try this & make an update later. The sweet aspect did bother me a little, but I enjoyed the texture & the body.
3-word Description:
Fruity, caramel & sweet.
The Reference
More Information @cognac-larsen.fr/
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