Hennessy Privilège VSOP Cognac

Here's my typical issue when shopping: specifically with brandy, I am very inexperienced and uneducated, so I'm looking for a well-reviewed bottle. However, after years of collecting many types of spirits, my standards are unfortunately too high to buy anything of poor or cheap quality. What's the solution? Buy 2 different VSOPs so I don't feel bad about using any of my now 4 for mixing. I think this is how libraries of liquor get built... If so, I'm on a good track. The color is nice and deep, which I'm to understand should be in part from the grapes themselves, but with up to 15 years of age in this, one would believe that the oak had to imprint part of this red-brown color. There's a musty scent that I'm familiar with related to quality, cellared red wine, but also a brighter, fruity note, somewhat tropical in nature. There's some slight caramelized sugar, similar to a rum scent, but the fruitiness is the leading scent. The initial flavor is extra sweet raisins, and then more fruit join the party. I get notes of a full fruit basket that's been sun-dried for half a day; musty and slightly jammy, but still plenty sweet. There's plenty of good, fresh oak flavor, but not raw. You can tell there is good age behind this, as both the fruit and oak flavors are very potent, but not overpowering, and they blend together well. The finish is more of the same, but there is a surprising hot note that's not expected from just an 80 proof cognac. Again, I have very little tasting experience with brandy, but this hits all of my expectations, little as they may be. However, the taste is simple, yet flavorful and still full of good oak from the age. Plus, having any type of burn on the finish of an 80 proof spirit is a pro for me, despite it being the opposite for many others. For not being able to find proper, imported cognac from smaller distilleries, this bottle does a great stand-in job, and is at a decent price point.

N: Red wine, grapes, cherries, and wood. Really straightforward. Then there's an earthy, grapey, mineral funk. Maybe just a hint of tropical fruit, particularly a creamy mango note. Little bit too much ethanol if you linger in the glass long enough. P: Balanced nicely and feels like it's in the semi-sweet range based on my red wine experience. Mostly follows the nose: red wine grapes (yes, without the comma this time - more grape than wine), cherries, and bitter wood notes with a touch of heat. Little bit of vanilla and caramel. Some medicinal notes and astringency lead into the finish, which brings more wood notes. There's some vanilla, baking spice, and some red wine tannins. Received this as a gift. It's not the first cognac I've tried, but I've not had many and this is certainly the first I've reviewed. That to say I really have nothing to compare this too. I will say I really like the flavor profile and think I'm inclined to try more cognacs and the like. I expect this is probably middle of the road at best, but this feels like a road I'd like to travel. _______ Please come join a bunch of regular Distiller reviewers are chatting spirits in real time on Discord: https://discord.gg/4nfePCdyKM. (If the link is expired, post a comment and I will post a new one.)

Appearance: Very dark caramel in the glass, rich and appealing. Nose: Grape-forward with layered notes of caramel, vanilla, and oak. Complex, but not overwhelming. Palate: Very light on the tongue, almost like sipping spring water. Smooth, but lighter in flavor than expected. Grape, caramel, and oak come through, but without deep complexity. Finish: A slight ethanol burn, surprising at this price point. Other Armagnacs at half the price and brandies at a third have shown smoother endings. Feel: Carries mystique, but doesn’t quite justify the price. Respectable, but outshined tonight by humbler bottles. --- The Polished Mask Dark caramel gleams, a promise of depth unfulfilled. The nose whispers of oak, of caramel, yet the tongue finds only shadows. Smooth, yes— but empty smoothness, like spring water veiled in silk. A trace of burn remains, a reminder of cost without crown. Prestige walks before it, but in the glass tonight, it is not the king. —Sophie

Super spicy... much more than I can swallow easily... Its aromas are better than its VS.. bolder and more intense taste of oak and clove, but on nose is still less than expectation. Got some fruit notes but all were covered by pepper and spice, which I feel too much.. And when I mixed with a little water, it got better for spice but overall taste was dropped too... unfortunately. Drink neat? For me it might be a little hard to try again.. Mix with something else? Have to try and I believe it might be better. The best thing? I've bought only a small bottle!!

Grape juice and stewed prunes greet the nose. The sweet grape intermingles with a slight lime that I get in some Cognacs, with some clove and other sweet spice buried underneath. The entry is smooth as silk (possibly from the bottle having been open for a year), with honey, orange marmalade, dark fruit, plum, blackberries, and a hint of salt to whet the palate. I'm a big fan of Remy Martin's aesthetic, but I won't pretend for a second that it beats Hennessy VSOP in a side-by-side tasting. It's a significant step up from the underwhelming VS.

(Update) Had the XO and, surprisingly, I prefer the VSOP! Wow! Good cognac. Fruity - but not overpowering- and rich. It coats your mouth with warm raisin and dark fruit and - I never thought I’d say this but - I actually prefer this over Remy 1738. I purchased the 200ml to sample it but will soon purchase the 750ml. Sure it’s “mainstream” but there is no denying its “very special”. This may even entice me to purchase its older brother - Hennessy XO