E&J VS Brandy

Forgive this lengthy introduction. My grandfather passed away a few months ago, and while clearing out his home, we discovered his collection of beverages. He and my grandmother weren't big drinkers, but it seems they either received a lot of alcohol as gifts or kept it available for guests. There was a lot of old wine and champagne, bottles of Canadian whisky, gin, various liqueurs, and this brandy. Everything had been stored in a cabinet over his refrigerator, so I'm sure the wine is long past its prime and the champagne had turned brown with black bits. The spirits, however, survived. He had an unopened Canadian Club from 1967, an open but nearly full Seagrams VO from 1976, and a few others. Nothing that would be worth much today, but the memories make it more precious to me. I opened this brandy, bottled before 1988 (I know because the surgeon general's warning wasn't on labels then, and this one doesn't have it!). Here's what I discovered. Bottled at 40% ABV, likely chill-filtered and colored. It has a bronze-amber hue. There's no age statement, but I assume the V.S. designation (which this old bottle lacks) implies a minimum age of 2 years. The aroma is very sweet and fruity, with notes of red grapes and berries, pears, and a hint of toasted coconut. It possesses a corn-like sweetness and is quite floral. I also detected almond butter, candle wax, and potpourri – like potpourri from another room carried on a breeze. There are undertones of dry grass, earthiness, honey, and butterscotch, along with a touch of vanilla and wood spice. It has far more depth and complexity than I anticipated. As it sits in the glass, it becomes sweeter, with a syrupy richness. The palate has a slightly peppery start, but it's not overwhelming. Honey and strong butterscotch dominate, followed by grape skins, earthiness, and waxiness. More butterscotch appears. Its youth is evident here, with some roughness and occasional alcohol sharpness. The mouthfeel is light to medium-bodied, transitioning from creamy and mouthwatering to dry. The finish is medium in length, featuring more butterscotch and hints of salted caramel. I expected this to be very harsh and perhaps only suitable for cleaning, but it's actually quite good. Aside from the occasional sharpness from the alcohol, it's very enjoyable. While I don't have much experience with brandy, I appreciated it for what it is. Excellent value for the price. I'm tasting from a 200mL bottle that would cost about $3.48 today, with a 750mL bottle at $11. You can't beat that. I'd rate this a 5 for sentimental reasons, but objectively it's a 3.25, bumped to a 3.5 considering the value. Cheers 🥃

Mother-in-law's cabinet, take two! The label's use of "extra smooth," "mellow," "rare blend," and "finest brandy"... Scents of fennel? Rubbing alcohol? Pear? Ice chest? Surprisingly palatable - sweet, jammy, like honey chew candy, pleasant aged oak notes, a touch of allspice. Not bad. Not a blind taste. I could actually finish this! I won't, but I could. Between this and Johnnie Walker Red, I would choose this.

Aroma: I didn't detect much, perhaps a faint citrus or cherry scent? Palate: Strong caramelized apple flavor with a touch of black cherry on top. Finish: I experienced a somewhat faint but sweet finish, with hints of cinnamon and chocolate. Overall: While the scent and finish aren't remarkable, the flavor is fantastic and perfect for the winter holiday season!!

Smells like pineapple, grape, apple, banana, vanilla, with a strong ethanol sting. Tastes of apple juice, grape, banana, caramel, more generic sweet fruit notes, slightly harsh oak, a potent alcoholic bite, and a quick finish with diminishing fruit sweetness and young caramel alcohol flavors. It's quite unpleasant and not enjoyable to drink straight. Best suited for mixing only.

Decided to sample this for a sangria recipe. Lately, I've been trying many spirits rated 4 stars or higher, and this doesn't compare. It serves as a good example of something average. It has a fruity, thick quality. Drinking it isn't a challenge, but it doesn't bring pleasure. (However, it is smooth...)

The aroma is the most appealing aspect. It suggests grapes and fruity scents. The taste is very strong with a noticeable amount of heat, even when sipping. I used the rest of the small bottle as a mixer. I'll likely only use it for that purpose in the future.