Pierre Duchene Napoelon French Brandy

This spirit is inexpensive and a bit diluted, but it lacks any unpleasant cherry notes. While somewhat one-dimensional, the dominant toffee flavor is quite good and it's remarkably smooth. There's a hint of red fruit for richness, but its effect is minor. The finish is slightly oily and vegetal, in a pleasant way. It's excellent for cooking, though I'd likely select something less bland for drinking. Its smoothness gives it a watery quality with a strong vanilla presence, reminiscent of bourbon. I appreciate it somewhat, but I don't love it. It has a touch of salty icing sugar, but it's quite decent when sipped alone. There's just enough fruitiness to pass for a brandy, but the vanilla makes it somewhat confusing. I desire more complexity so it doesn't taste so much like water, but the fruit and vanilla notes in the finish are nice, and most of the flavors are quite pleasant. The smell has some orange fruits and a bit of white grape. It's sweet-smelling but subdued. The taste is sweet and not too intense, with a nice sweet marmalade flavor. There's also a slight metallic off-note, but it's not too bothersome. Some vanilla and floral character are present, along with icing sugar. It's great for cooking and fine for mixing, but I want more for sipping. There's a hint of caramel, but it's light. It has a little spice and harshness, but it's not excessive. This certainly doesn't present as a VSOP; it's more like a VS. The smell needs improvement, and the taste is rather light and generic. There's a bit too much mineral. Nevertheless, it's not bad, and I could see myself drinking it if the circumstances called for it. It tastes like a Cognac leaning towards orange with some cherry. The burn is quite noticeable for 40% ABV, but it's manageable. A larger sip reveals more off-flavors, so it's not terrible, but the mineral and metallic notes prevent it from being outstanding. This is quite challenging to drink, but certainly suitable for cooking. It contains a lot of powdered sugar and few other flavors, making it inferior to Kahlua. The orange flavor tastes artificial, and its overwhelming sweetness and off-notes make it very difficult to drink. Disgusting.