Hardy Legend 1863 Cognac

Smell: Green grapes, apricot, and oak Palate: Sweet and fruity with subtle hints of spice. Tastes like pear tarte tatin. Finish: Immediately shifts from sweet fruit to oaky champagne. Eventually returns to the caramelized pear flavor. The duration is very impressive. I'm not sure I've encountered such an immediate contrast from the palate to the finish in any spirit before. It's quite remarkable and somewhat astonishing. I'm still relatively new to the world of Cognac, but this is undoubtedly the most complex one I've tried to date.

An elegant Brandy from Cognac, France, crafted from 100% Ugni Blanc grapes. It matured in lightly toasted Limousin oak casks for 2 to 12 years. This spirit is named in honor of the founding year of the Hardy Distillery. It begins with a delicate and floral character, featuring notes of cappuccino, vanilla, and a touch of citrus zest. Its elegant development introduces flavors of café latte, orange marmalade, and jasmine, leading to an off-dry conclusion of moderate length. December 2019

Deep copper color. The aroma is dominated by alcohol with a whisper of raisin. Tasting notes include raisin and fig with a mild burn. It has a medium mouthfeel and a lengthy finish. This cognac has a rather potent flavor for its type. The raisin and fig notes are reminiscent of Cardenal Mendoza, but less intense. I felt the burn was a bit excessive for the price. Despite not being a typical cognac flavor profile, it's a solid brandy overall.

Smell after resting for 15+ minutes: heavy brown sugar, caramel, raisin, fig. Butter and vanilla. Walnut. Taste reveals a medium to dark caramel, chocolate, nutty, raisin, clove, and spice. Very enjoyable. A finish of moderate length.

Pleasant aroma with notes of dark dried fruit and honey. The body is well-balanced, featuring abundant caramel and coffee flavors, with a medium-length finish.

Notes of dark fruit, brown sugar, and coffee. A very nice after-dinner cognac.