Cognac Dudognon Reserve

I've heard fantastic things about Dudognon Heritage. This expression is 10 years old, while the other is 40, but I'm assuming (and hoping) the quality remains consistent across their age statements. While it won't match a 40-year-old cognac, 10 years is a respectable age, so it should be quite good. Nose: Certainly has alcohol. There's a hint of plant life, almost like faint pond scum. It then transitions to apple and then orange, and finally cherry. There's a whisper of pork loin, so faint I might be imagining it. A very thin layer of slightly undercooked caramel. Some subtle barrel spice notes, but not much activity there. It's a rather light aroma with an excessive amount of alcohol. If it lacked an age statement, I'd guess its age to be around 3 to 5 years. A disappointing start. Palate: It's quite thin. The alcohol is immediately noticeable. There's some minerality, but not overwhelming. The orange and apple notes come through with a touch of nectar sweetness. I don't really detect the cherry, and thankfully the vegetal notes are mostly absent. Barrel spices are present, including some vanilla, though being French oak, the vanilla isn't very pronounced. With further exploration, I find more to enjoy, but the thinness and alcohol are still apparent. Additional proof and age would likely benefit this greatly. This bears a strong resemblance to ABK6 VSOP, but with less sweetness and a more prominent alcohol character. The ABK6 always seemed too sugary and lacking complexity, but I must admit it was decadent and easy to drink. This is less decadent and harder to drink, without offering significant compensatory qualities. It's acceptable, but not particularly thrilling, and the alcohol is quite bothersome. Finish: Not much happening. Faint orange and vanilla. Alcohol. Dull and mostly quite brief. Conclusion: I wish I still had some ABK6 VSOP (14/23) to compare directly, but I'm confident this isn't as good. It's certainly not difficult to drink, but I wouldn't ever order it (perhaps only if it were heavily discounted at a bar...). A 12 is the absolute best this could achieve, with a 9 being the floor, and I'm more inclined to believe the lower score. In a peculiar side-by-side, my bottle of Ry3 Cask Strength offers much more peanut and richness than this. I'm considering a 10 or 11 for this, but I couldn't possibly rate it as poorly as the Ry3. Not that the Ry3 is bad, but... This has significantly less flavor. Yes, the Ry3 is over 50% stronger, yet it has remarkably little flavor. Still, it somehow possesses considerably more flavor than this. This is slightly more complex and definitely less aggressive, but it's not substantially better. I'm settling on a 10. No, this reminds me of those Irish whiskeys with overpowering alcohol. I'm going with a 9. There's simply too much alcohol and a shocking lack of flavor. The unfortunate part is that some genuinely nice flavors are masked by the alcohol. This gives me hope for Dudognon's older expressions, but it doesn't make me fond of this one. Still, it makes me reconsider rating it a 9. There's actually considerable nuance hidden within. Various orange notes and wood depth. Some pleasant cherry and spice. It actually works well after something that highlights alcohol, like vodka or white rum. However, the alcohol really does stand out significantly here. Sadly, I can't place this on the same level as Osocalis Rare Alembic Brandy (12/23) because the Osocalis is more complex and, despite its unique character, has less alcohol present. Not a 12, but perhaps a 9 was too harsh. I'm now considering a 10. Plantation 3 Stars (11/23) seems slightly superior to this. I do appreciate the underlying flavor profile of this more, but it's simply more watery and has more alcohol. I can see myself changing my mind and increasing the score, but for now, it falls short of the Plantation. I can also see this competing with Probitas (11/23), but currently, I'm leaning toward the Probitas. It's closer than I anticipated before the comparison. So, I'm thinking of giving this a 10 now. The full body of the Probitas is much more appealing than the thinness of this – likely enough to offset the complexity of this, especially when factoring in the alcoholic presence here. Ancient Ancient Age 10 Star (12/23) definitely surpasses this with its richness and surprising maturity. It offers a pleasant peanut note in comparison, along with some light brown sugar. For now, this is a 10. I am quite disappointed. Even at a 12, it's nowhere near the 16 I awarded it previously. Reviewing my past tasting notes, the profile also appears very different. I suspect the spirit may have changed over the last 3 years, unfortunately. This has transitioned from a very good Cognac at an excellent price to a merely drinkable Cognac that has thankfully not increased in cost.

This spirit boasts an intensely fruity, forward profile. It's smooth, with caramel and a sweet, viscous texture. It strongly evokes Remy Martin 1738. The taste is very sweet, fruity, and floral, balanced by a sufficient earthiness. The outcome is a well-rounded and highly drinkable brandy, though I desire more. It's akin to sipping cherry nectar. I'd prefer more oak influence and complexity, but it serves as a very pleasant dessert beverage.

Outstanding. My initial exploration into Cognac, as my prior experience with Brandy has been solely with Pisco. It certainly has more body and complexity than Pisco. I was not anticipating such depth at this price point. I acquired this primarily as a mixer, but it is more than pleasant when consumed on its own.

From a small 5cl sample. A refined, young cognac. Moderately sweet and somewhat smooth, with notes of orchard fruit, vanilla, lemon zest, minerality, chalk, and a very subtle hint of barrel spice. It appears to be a quality distillate, suggesting promising quality from their more aged offerings.

These tasting notes are accurate. I would say that the initial flavors lean more toward honey than vanilla, but they are still quite floral. The Vieille Reserve is exceptional, and it's clear that it could develop further with additional aging.

Light and fruity, with a touch of cinnamon and clove on the finish. Excellent for the price, but difficult to locate locally.