Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva Brandy de Jerez

Dispatch from the front lines of life with a toddler: The wife and I are currently planning an off-season trip to Spain and Portugal. As exciting as the prospect of taking a two year old on an transatlantic adventure sounds, we decided that perhaps my in-laws can watch the kiddo while we go and see amazing sights, eat amazing food, and drink loads of great wine without a little person in tow. I don't think she's big on drinking garnacha, after all. So, to building a little excitement for the trip, I picked up a spread of Spanish wines in Madison today...and this, because you need something for after dinner and late into the Iberian evening ,amiright? This is a pretty phenomenal dram, right from the moment it pours into a glass. The mahogany color on this - so deep, so rich. It's beautiful. The beauty doesn't stop there; the nose is tremendous and complex. Butterscotch, toffee, plums, raisins, dried figs, dates, dark chocolate, coffee, a touch of vanilla. The palate is equally deep and rich, with loads of dried fruit, toffee, coffee, chocolate, and banana flavors. And what a mouthfeel - dense, rich, and coating. The Pedro Ximenez influence shows and undoubtedly imparts plenty of the sweet-dark richness, but the smoothness here - not a hint of burn, and at 40% I'd hope not, but damn...this is some quality distillate that's been well aged in good casks. At a little under $60 for the bottle, this is very nicely priced. I usually don't find terms like decadent and hedonistic helpful in describing spirits, but if there were ever a time to bust that out, it's now. This is really something, a real feast for the senses. Give me this, a candlelit corner in a tasca in Sevilla, a little guitar music, and time with my wife sin la chiquilla...I can hardly wait.

Nose is almost rum-like: toffee, brown sugar, some banana, deep dried fermented grapes and figs with some nuttiness, reminiscent of a fig newton. Texture is thick and smooth, with taste of cocoa-dusted fig newtons battling with rich raisiny sherries. The sensation of the alcohol itself hits late, slowly coating the throat like a rich old-timey cough syrup. Finishes with a touch of mint. Very good! Punches WAAAY above its weight for 40% ABV. I want to drink this when I'm sick. I think it'd do a better job than Robitussin.

Very deep copper color on the pour. The nose is strong with sweet fig and raisin scents. Taste is like the nose but not as sweet, yet sweet enough. Thick mouthfeel and a long finish. Slight sting of alcohol but no effect on the palate. This was my first Spanish brandy and it was very good. As much as I like Cognac, the more robust flavor here is my general preference with liquor in general (compared to lighter flavors). I will try other Spanish brandies hoping for a similar profile.

Cardenal Mendoza Solera Gran Reserva is created from 100% holandas (distilled in alquitaras, or pot stills, up to 70% alcohol). Aged for an average of 15 YR in Oloroso and Pedro Ximenez sherry casks. The nose is well balanced with notes of sherry, raisin and prune. The palate is rich with those same sherry, raisin, and prune notes. A lingering mouth-feel and finish. Great stuff!! My score was 90.5. Cheers!!

Rich nose of butterscotch, grape, caramel, apple and wood. Sweet on the palate, with flavors of leather, grape jam, grape koolaid, and a touch of spice. Certainly a dessert brandy, this is quite sweet and there’s not much complexity. Sweet sugary finish.

On the eye, this brandy has a dark tone. It smells fruitier than woody. As for the taste, my key take away is that Cardenal Mendoza has a rich and flavorful profile. I get sherry and a fruity sweetness. It also reminds me of prunes.