Delord Armagnac XO

Dear Whiskey, This is difficult to write, so some points first. My primary sentiment is that you will always be my first love, and I never want our connection to end. You are too important to me, and I will always cherish you. Second, please don't perceive what follows as a personal attack; I know the blame lies with your creators, not you. With all that said... I believe I'm also in love with brandy, gin, and rum. My affection is broad enough to be shared, and I think we all benefit when we share our lives and passions. Furthermore, your current prices are prohibitive. Some pretentious individual in Brooklyn can hire someone in Indiana to produce whiskey, age it briefly in small barrels, and attempt to charge me $100 for a 375mL bottle of underaged product, and many people will still buy it. Meanwhile, major international spirits companies can discontinue age-stated whiskies for non-age-statement bottlings of lesser quality, increase the price, and still sell them rapidly – and that's not even touching on the ultra-premium tier. Or, I can spend $50 on this armagnac and get a well-aged, complex spirit full of flavor and character. I love you, whiskey, but until this market corrects itself...you'll have to share my attention with other spirits. Setting aside this elaborate setup for a tasting note, this is a beautiful spirit. The nose is magnificent – dried fruit, nuts, brown sugar, and figs poached in syrup. The palate mirrors the nose with a complex, flavorful journey, minimal burn (but a pleasantly mild warmth), a rich and round mouthfeel, and a salty, savory finish that elevates it for me. The careful consideration in cask selection and aging is evident; only quality spirit in quality wood, allowed to rest in a well-maintained environment, can produce such a result.

Nose: Dried grapes, delicate floral scents (violets, honeysuckle, night-blooming jasmine), fresh walnuts, clove, cinnamon, honey, a subtle woody earthiness, brown sugar, dried fig, dried date, prunes, and rancio. A faint smoky characteristic is present, though it's not a 'smoky' spirit. [The aroma from the empty glass strongly evokes a sherry-finished whisky]. Palate: A warm, sweet woody entry without any harshness. As the taste unfolds, notes of licorice and fruit appear (apricot, peach), yet the spirit remains light and invigorating with a crème brûlée core. An aromatic pastis-like essence is perceived on the palate. Finish: Moderate to long. A sweet grape essence fades into hints of bittersweet chocolate and a touch of white pepper. Full of character and continually evolving in the glass, especially the nose. The complexity and reward of the profile are notable, and the texture is perfectly balanced, disappearing on the palate. For my 400th review, I decided to explore something unfamiliar. It's been decades since I last sampled an armagnac, having only had it a few times, but I've always enjoyed it. Armagnac possesses an earthy, rustic, captivating quality in both aroma and taste, with a hint of something like hogo. One tasting session invariably leads to another pour. "Above Average": 82/100 (3.25 stars)

The XO bottling from Delord is quite similar to the VSOP. It's not truly XO by usual standards, as it's only 50% 15-year-old armagnac distillates, with the other half being 6 years old. It's not identical to the VSOP but appears as a more capable, 'pro' version, and I had a very good impression. The taste and aroma aren't significantly different, but the intensity is higher compared to the younger version. Nose: Initially, hints of leather and rubber (like a car tire), vanilla, various sweet, ripe tropical fruits such as papaya or muskmelon, nutmeg, sweet, refreshing menthol, grape juice, and perfume. Palate: Pineapples in the background, many diverse sweet, moderately warm spices, honey cake, milk chocolate with a citrus filling, raisins, mango, and pine nuts. The finish is vibrant and lasting, full in the mouth, smooth, with a slight mint and sweetness.

This is intriguing. It possesses considerable depth with upfront woodiness and smoke, followed by rich red fruit and a dry finish that balances tartness and sweetness. While I would prefer a less dry finish, I appreciate how the dryness prevents the brandy from becoming excessively sweet. It has creaminess, rich milk chocolate, and mild cinnamon. There's just enough spice to provide flavor while maintaining a smooth spirit. This might be the Brandy equivalent of the Compass Box Spice Tree. Alternatively, due to its all-around balance, it could be compared to Highland Park 18 (though it is notably inferior).

Strong notes of raisin, toasted almond, apricot, and orange peel. Subtle red berry hints. Noticeable spice, but otherwise quite smooth when drunk neat. The finish is moderate to long, very spicy and dry, despite the initial fruit sweetness. I really enjoyed this!

It has a color like burnt sienna. I suspect it's artificial. It has notes of gingerbread, ripe orchard fruit, rich oak, coffee, caramel, crème brûlée, and a hint of barrel spice. It's smooth, sweet, and dangerously easy to drink.