The aroma is a display of scents, packed with raisins and dates. Fleeting hints of orange peel and sugar emerge. With subsequent sips, the aroma shifts to cinnamon-forward orange candy. The taste begins with minimal sweetness, reminiscent of coffee diluted heavily with milk. Oranges, honey, red grapes, and cinnamon appear in the mid-palate, before the warmth delivers a finish of vermouth, bitter oranges, winter spices, and oak. The body at 80 proof is a bit thin for my palate accustomed to cask-strength scotch and bourbon. The aroma shows off the 'Elegance' suggested by this cognac's name, but the taste falls slightly short. This is an instance of a well-matured cognac - it is an XO after all - where the extended aging has diminished some of its fruitiness, a characteristic readily found in VS and VSOP stock (along with the ethanol harshness). Nevertheless, the bottle's appearance is appealing and it comes with a substantial screw cap made from dense glass (one that could have been used by David to vanquish Goliath). I purchased the gift box set, which included two copitas. Considering the value, I have no regrets about this purchase. However, I might need to conduct a side-by-side comparison with an XO from a major producer (such as Courvoisier, Hennessy, Martell, or Rémy Martin) to be entirely sure.
CAMUS XO Elegance Cognac
Brandy Cognac Cognac No age statement 40% ABV
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About this bottle
The Camus family has been producing cognac for five generations, with roots in the business dating back to 1863. They own vineyards in the Borderies area of Cognac, where they grow grapes for their spirits. To achieve complexity, they also source eaux-de-vie from all six Cognac growing regions. The XO Elegance is a blend of eaux-de-vie sourced from across the Cognac region. The family manages its cellars to influence the aging process, moving barrels for the XO Elegance from areas with higher humidity to drier environments as they mature. This cognac is bottled at 40% ABV.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 4 parsed reviews.
NOSE: Deep orange peel preserve. Noticeably mellow. Faint leather dressing. Creamy vanilla pudding. Flaky baked dough. PALATE: Sugary orange fruit chews. Tart grapefruit. Delicate cinnamon warmth. The finish presents chocolate-coated almond paste. OVERALL: Stunning, lively sunset hues. Brilliant. The aroma is deep yet delicate. The taste is sweet fruit with significant dryness. A delightful brandy for slow enjoyment, not overwhelming.
A rich, XO Elegance expression, Camus crafts a luxurious, impressive brandy using eaux-de-vie from all six of Cognac's crus. It begins floral with notes of rich dark fruit; the palate features nut & oak; while the finish is long with notes of vanilla sweetness & brandied cherries, with hints of grape, hazelnut & rye adding complexity. September 2017
Excellent. Very mellow. It was a gift, and it is wonderful.
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