Spirit review: Bas Armagnac Marie Duffau Napoléon bottled @ 40%

Spirit review: Bas Armagnac Marie Duffau Napoléon bottled @ 40%

-Very well priced Armagnac
-Young yet very well seated in the glass
-Red wax seal
-Between VSOP and XO

Colour: nice reddish copper tone, medium bodied

Nose: leather, tannin, mineral notes, salts, dried fruits, juicy, mouth watering, velvety minerals, metallic notes, lots of fruits, sweet, very warm and inviting.

Mouth: warm white pepper, fresh, very fresh, rolls out on leather, juicy fruits, dried pear, apricot, covers the mouth, really a dense yet light fruit coating.

Finish: lingering fruit, tannin, toffee, more fruits, small red fruits, dried red grapes.

A+ for the price. for 47.85$ (LCBO), it's simply awesome. Must try.
A for taste. warming, fresh and fruity.
A for presentation. Great simple rusting bottling.

Spirit review: Delord Bas-Armagnac XO bottled @ 40%

Spirit review: Delord Bas-Armagnac XO bottled @ 40%

-Lovely handwritten label
-Waxed cap
-And a waxed seal...what else?

Colour: dark copper tones, light bodied, medium legs

Nose: very sweet, pungent sweet macerated pear, small plums, grapes, fresh sweet chili notes, very aromatic, fragrant yet keeps its rustic pepper tone.

Mouth: Lots of confit fruit, marmalade, apricot, pear, polished fruit, candied fruits, liqueur type of sweetness, on the fruit, mouth covering, fresh white pepper, very delicate arrival yet so good. If you leave it some time, it will calm down and tilt toward a more liquor type of spirit, tangy fruity sirupy. Exquisite.

Finish: sticky dark red fruits, pepper, apricot, pear, just very long and does not let you forget you drank.

A for the price. Paid 61.5$ (SAQ) but is now 64$. Nonetheless, hard to beat for such a great spirit.
A for the presentation. No useless boxing, just the bottle and very elegant waxed cap.
A for the taste. Just let it relax and tame it, well worth every penny.

Spirit Tasting: Hardy Cognac V.S.O.P Fine Champagne bottled @ 40%

Spirit Tasting: Hardy Cognac V.S.O.P Fine Champagne bottled @ 40%

-Decent pricing
-Nice bottling
-Yep, got the last glass

Colour: dark copperish tone, medium bodied

Nose: tannin, confit fruits, mineral, a bit robust,  pear, light wine notes, sweet, young yet great personality.

Mouth: very peppery, bitter black fruits, mineral, very fruity, some leather notes, more of a short robust-fruity blast than a complex Cognac. Not bad, simply just not great.

Finish: lingering mineral, fruits, pear, tannin, pepper heat

B+ for the price. I paid 66.5$ (SAQ) which is fairly decent for a VSOP, at least here.
B for the taste. It's fine, a dash of water will help tone down its more robust angle.
A for presentation. The new bottling is great.

Whisky review: The Balvenie 14 ans Caribbean Cask, bottled @ 43%

Whisky review: The Balvenie 14 ans Caribbean Cask, bottled @ 43%

-The long awaited rum Cask !

Colour: pale yellow, light straw, medium bodied.

Nose: vanilla, sugar canes, light wood sap, rum notes, agricultural rum,

Mouth: light vanilla, spices, nice sweet rum notes, sugar canes, white fruits, bit rough, hints of oranges.

Finish: lingering fruits, sugar canes notes, spices.

C+ for the price. 110$ seems a bit high considering its age as the Balvenie Doublewood goes for 84$.
A for presentation. Nice clean looking Balvenie.
B for the taste. Interesting rum finish, yet, a tad too sweet. It would have been nicer to try older rum cask to get more wood influence.

Whisky review: Aberlour 18 years old, bottled @ 43%

Whisky review: Aberlour 18 years old, bottled @ 43%

Colour: copper notes, dark golden red notes. Nice sherry colour

Nose: deep caramel, lots of spices, touches of white pepper, light spicy sweet notes, more red fruits

Mouth: watery, very light, chili, sweet spicy, roasted coconut, hand cream, lotion, sherry wine, light fruits. Yet one would feel an 18 yo should be a bit more complete...not watery

Finish: spices, sherry notes, red dried fruits, medium finish.

B- for the taste. It's a good Aberlour/Sherry whisky, but it's too light and does not give a complete experience.
A- for presentation. Waxy top and nice chubby bottle.
D+ for the price. 157$ (SAQ)....No way I'm spending this amount. Go for another expression instead.

Whisky review: Big Peat vatted malt D.Laing bottled @46%

Whisky review: Big Peat vatted malt D.Laing bottled @46%

-Nice Islay blend from D.Laing
-Says to contain Port Helen .....like a drop maybe.

Colour: light gold, very pale, straw and bright

Nose: peat, iodine, medicinal oils, some citrus notes, not too dense...as in lots of part are trying to take control yet nothing comes through

Mouth: Strong peat and smoke arrival, dark ashes, butts, more of a laphroiag mouth than Ardbeg or even Caol Ila. More peat, juicy peat, ashes, hot cinder, remains light bodied.

Finish: lingering peat, smoke and ashes, long presence felt. Very pleasant.

D for the price. For 85$ I would simply buy a Laphroiag QC (70$), Islay Mist 17 (72$) or even a Bowmore Tempest....so no thanks.
C for presentation. Yes it is different but...looks more like someone being blown a very unpleasant smell on the face than ''peat''.
B+ for the taste. It is very decent and peaty, very nice finish as well

Whisky review: Scallywag blended malt, bottled @ 46%

Whisky review: Scallywag blended malt, bottled @ 46%

-2nd new blend from Douglas Laing
-Small batch
-Non-chill

Colour: dark gold, oilier than the previous, medium bodied

Nose: sweets, spices, bit rough as well, fruits, burnt fruits, chili, light white pepper, mineral, metallic notes, sweet sappy notes

Mouth: fruits, spices, vanilla, rough notes, fresh, sour fruits, caramel.

Finish: light spices, sweet notes, broken sugar notes, hints of vanilla

B- for taste. It is ok, yet it remains young a bit unsettled. Nothing memorable either.
C for the presentation. Yes, it is Fred Laing's dog...but again who cares?
E for the price. It is to be 85ish dollars as well when it arrives (SAQ)