Symbole National Brandy XO

This early tasting note is from a very old bottle, one of the first spirits acquired. It was quite enjoyable back then! This spirit is sweet, with prune, raisin, date, and fig flavors that just barely avoid tasting like cherry syrup. The taste is rich and smooth with some variation. Beyond the dominant prune and raisin, there are hints of toffee and cream. There's not much spice, but a faint trace of ginger and cinnamon appears towards the end, along with a touch of clove or perhaps Sichuan peppercorn. A slight wood presence is noticeable throughout. Occasional hints of vanilla, mint, and milk chocolate are also detected. While the strong red fruit flavor prevents it from being a favorite, its depth, richness, and smoothness are appreciated. This is undoubtedly an excellent Brandy, and its price is remarkable. An Islay version would be interesting to sample. There's a significant sweetness, but the maple flavor backing the strongest part is combined with delicious fruits and impressive depth, making it enjoyable in almost any situation. Compared to a specific Brandy, this is reminiscent of a Scotch like Glengoyne 15 blended with a bit of Christian Brothers VS or E&J XO (not an insult). There's a lot going on here, and it's a magnificent drink. For the price, it's likely the best value available! This spirit is sweet and definitely resembles Cognac more than Armagnac. It lacks the intensity of Remy Martin, sharing some characteristics with E&J XO. Perhaps it's too sweet at times? It has a rum-like sweetness, but not nearly as much as E&J XO. The aroma and taste are remarkably aged for the cost. It has ample woody richness with pleasant toffee and plum notes. Some banana is present, which is a bit unconventional and might not appeal to Brandy enthusiasts, but the richness is quite good. Very sweet and fruity, but the caramel yields to rich toffee with some dark chocolate and wood. It's not the absolute best Brandy, but it's great and well worth the cost. The aroma is sweet with dark fruit sweetness mixed with some wood and milk chocolate. Cherries, dates, and raisins are particularly noticeable. Oily hints of nuts are also present. The taste is sweet with those rich dark fruit flavors prominent. The raisin, date, prune, and milk chocolate flavors are rich and decadent. The overall flavor profile is a bit too sweet, however. The palate has some spice and a slightly bitter oil, but it could benefit from more aged woodiness and less sugary syrup. Nevertheless, it's very good. It surpasses the cherry assertiveness of A De Fussigny Selection, but would be improved with more of that Brandy's spiciness. The aroma has rich, deep fruits, with bing cherry and raisin immediately standing out, along with some woody notes hinting at toffee. The taste is similar. It's definitely on the sweet and rich side. There's a bit more minerality than desired, but it's manageable.

Rating: 9/23 It has been a significant duration since my last tasting of this. I recall being quite fond of it initially, but my appreciation waned over time. Nose: Surprisingly savory, yet with some aeration, fruit and powdered sugar notes emerge. Raisin, a hint of dried cherry, and prune are detectable, alongside a notable mineral presence. Palate: Mineral, dried fruit, powdered sugar, and a numbing pepper sensation are present. It's somewhat sharp, but not entirely unpleasant. The dried fruit is somewhat obscured by the powdered sugar and mineral notes, but where it is perceptible, it is enjoyable. The flavor profile is quite subtle, and while acceptable, it lacks strong recommendations. Finish: The mineral character, sharpness, and powdered sugar linger longer than the fruit, regrettably. This seems like a perfectly adequate brandy for mixing, in my estimation. I will likely acquire another bottle to use over my fruitcake during the holidays. It bears a slight resemblance to Evan Williams in its lightness, though its fundamental flavors are not bad. It is a considerable improvement over Christian Brothers. I would prefer not to drink it neat, but could manage it. This seems to fall in the 9 to 10 range. Perhaps an 8. Actually, an 8 to 9. I'm undecided, but I will assign it a 9 for now.

Excellent for the cost. Brandy notes but very potent