Martell VS Single Distillery

It's smooth but a bit too delicate for my liking, offering aromas of green apple, pear, dried fruits, faint vanilla, and caramel in the background. It's easy to drink but lacks body and complexity, though the aromas are subtly detectable. The finish is short with minimal oak and wood notes. Drinking it neat, it feels a bit thin and lighter than I prefer, with a short aftertaste. With ice, the fruity aromas become more pronounced, and there's a touch more caramel, but the aftertaste remains short, limiting my enjoyment. Compared to Hennessy VS, which is harsher and oakier, this is a carefree drink. I imagined it would complement chilled Salmon Sashimi. My most surprising enjoyment was mixing it with coffee! I made a Brazilian Americano (iced) with Martell VS (2:0.75 oz)... It was incredible!! The Brazilian coffee has a rich body and cocoa aroma. When combined with the Martell's caramel and vanilla notes, it became smoother, with vanilla present subtly. The finish extended (thanks to the coffee's long aftertaste) with a cocoa wood scent at the end. Amazing!! Considering the cost, it's a very enjoyable cognac to experiment with in various preparations.

A wonderful scent of red berries, maraschino cherries, and grapes. Little else is apparent, but the aroma is so fine that I'm not bothered. It's agreeably sweet on the palate without being overwhelming; the flavor is reminiscent of chocolate-covered cherries, followed by the berries from the scent. An expert noted raspberry, but I'm not convinced it's that specific. Mid-palate reveals a pleasant French vanilla taste. The finish is superb, with a lingering, agreeable oak and spice. Also a great value!

Amber, perhaps even dark amber color. Rather oily texture. Nose: Quite pleasant. Maybe a touch of sweetness. Fruity, but not fresh. Hints of grape. Floral notes. Pear. Then fresher orchard fruits. A little vanilla and caramel. Palate: Slightly sweet. Fruity. Floral. Grape. Raisins, but more tart than sweet. Still, more grape overall. Oak barrel notes. A pinch of spice. White pepper. Slight oiliness. Finish: Sweetness. Fruit. Grapes and raisins. Spices. White pepper. Toasted barrel, bitterness. Dark chocolate. Body: Good. Total: 80.

A fruity aroma hits first, with raspberry and dark cherry notes. It evokes a summery feeling. The fruitiness carries onto the tongue, featuring prominent strawberry at the start, accompanied by a hint of cinnamon spice. The texture has a slight richness. The conclusion is quite brief, but leaves behind the tastes of strawberry shortcake and vanilla cream. This is remarkably good, and I genuinely believe the absence of oak aging helps highlight those delightful fruit flavors. Nevertheless, I'm eager to try the Cordon Bleu someday if possible.

Orange and floral notes are present in the aroma. It has a surprisingly substantial mouthfeel for a VS. Caramel, oak, and hops are noticeable on the palate, with a touch of saltiness that, for some reason, reminds me of a certain Scotch (this isn't peaty). The sweet toffee finish is very pleasing. There's still a slight harshness from the alcohol, but one could easily mistake this for a VSOP.

Crystal clear, copper hue, with distinct alcohol legs. The scent has notes of spiced hard candy, caramel, and fruit skins. The flavor mirrors these elements, with added hot spices and a clear pear characteristic. The texture is low medium, and the Martell VS (now, Martell VS Single Distillery) has a somewhat lingering finish, but the lingering part is pleasing.