St. Rémy VSOP

So I tried an inexpensive brandy again, and with the help of a friend, I found a good one. This is an excellent drink, and I'd drink more brandy if more were like this. It has a tawny color in the Glencairn and it coats the glass nicely. On the nose, it's lightly fruity with white grapes/raisins, but not overly sweet; there's vanilla and a touch of spice. The body is drier than I anticipated. Another brandy I enjoy is E and J XO brandy, which is quite sweet and better suited as a dessert. With Remy VSOP, the body is where this one stands out to me, as the flavors linger with vanilla and spices, plus a very noticeable and pleasant oak flavor. Sadly, I don't detect the cocoa that many others mention, but I'm working on expanding my palate. The finish is long and lingering with dried fruits and spices. This is an excellent drink for the price and makes an outstanding Brandy Old Fashioned. As for sipping neat, I've had it several times and find it very enjoyable. I'm open to recommendations for other Brandies and Cognacs to try, so please share your favorites. Enjoy!

I detect a peculiar aftertaste that lingers for about 10-15 seconds after drinking it neat or on the rocks, and it's not the most flavorful or smooth French brandy I've encountered. However, for the price, it's genuinely likely the best mixing brandy available and is good enough to sip neat when on a budget or in a pinch. I must say, the XO should only cost $5 or less more, and in my view, it represents a significant improvement in quality, likely being a better choice if you have the funds or opportunity. My local price is $18 USD for a 750ml bottle and $28 for a 1.75l handle. VS Cognac typically starts around $27 for a 750ml, and American brandies peak around $17-$18 for a 750ml E&J XO.

I consider this one of the best value propositions for a very good brandy at an accessible price. (Note: my assessment is based on numerous samples, not just a few.) The palate offers a fresh raisiny fruitiness, complemented by hints of vanilla and light spice. The finish has a lasting quality. It surpasses some cognacs I've sampled. Don't dismiss this based on hearsay. Remember, Cognac is brandy originating from the Cognac region, and not all of them are necessarily high quality; in fact, some are not. (Wine distributors have indicated to me that the lowest quality often gets exported.)

The bottle does not claim to be a cognac (even in the photo provided), only a brandy, so it's likely miscategorized. It's relatively sweet with a balanced body and a generally rich, rounded fruit flavor. I don't discern many specific notes, but there's some apricot and citrus peel. It's not very smooth, with a strong ethanol presence and a pronounced burn.

Initial ethanol aroma gives way to notes of oak, raisin, orange peel, and baking spice. These same flavors come through on the palate. The texture is light, with a finish that lasts a short to medium time. The palate has more heat, but less than what's on the nose. 2.00/5.00 – Bad (neat)

Alcohol vapors are the first thing on the nose. Following that, there's a bit of fig, golden raisin, and orange candies. It's smooth enough, with raisins, mild spice, orange peel, hints of bitter grapefruit, and some spice. The finish brings back alcohol vapors.