Minichan

@OP

> It's from France, apparently, and it only cost $12 for 750ml. It's not bad and I give it 7/10 but it's not as good as the Christian Brothers VS California brandy I had a few months ago (which was $0 for 750ml).
>
> What are your thoughts on brandy, foræ?

> Ascott Napoleon VSOP brandy.

That brand, never tried it. Multiple brands of French brandy's were good

I have over the years had my share of Christian bros & Korbel also E&J - Drinking them as one would with a Cognac or French brandy er not for me.

Something chemical tasting more like a Resin but I never could describe that chemical taste really. They all work just fyne in Egg Nogs and other mixed drinks that need brandy.

Many designer Calif brandies but I have only tried 4 or so and they equaled the French but with a different taste. Maybe it like the differences tween French Champagne and Calif Method sparking wine.

Calif grapes as Chardonnay and Pinot - The key grapes in Champagne, are apparently to rich in flavor to make a French Style Champagne. We do one hell of a job for sure but the product is far different even when its the same owner in France and Calif making the product. Brandies and Cognac probably the same issue.

Christian bros brandy operation is a MONSTER of Industrial operation and looks much like a Oil refinery except its super stainless steel shiny.

(Edited 45 seconds later.)

@OP
Ascott is good. I agree though, Christian Brothers tastes better. I also like courvoisier, remy, paul, and E&J.

I might just have to pick up a bottle tomorrow.

(Edited 5 minutes later.)

I don't drink brandy

@368,323 (★henn★)
for thanksgiving?

Maybe I'll just get a tattoo instead since I'm supposed to be going sober for a while....

@368,325 (beckyderp !CaTLdYmooc)
Not sure yet!

@368,319 (Syntax)
The Christian Brothers did taste eerily smooth, especially considering it's price (which should have been $10, not $0, that was a typo). I wouldn't be surprised it if was pumped full of additives. Overall I would readily buy this brandy again, but it just lacks... something.
@368,323 (★henn★)
I couldn't afford any cognac or armagnac :(
@368,324 (beckyderp !CaTLdYmooc)
I've developed quite a liking for it. It mixes the best parts of whiskey and wine.

@previous (Meta !PARAdoxiHw)

Syntax here with that silly moniker I used to reply to a silly shit post

Been some time now but once upon a tyme I took a huge number of wine tasting classes which included Spirits. Included terrific trips to Calif wine country and 3 weeks at a time to France Italy and Germany, Not all in the same year!. This was mostly with LA Times Writer reviewer Robert Lawrence Balzar. Recently became a Spirit himself at one year shy of 100. Students on trips were treated like royalty by famous wine spirit houses.

Now keep in mind we were students and often that education extended to hands on a bit. So watching a oak barrel made from scratch to age Cognac is a great memory. Details like owing the forest and buying a different variety of oak for certain characteristics. Those copper stills and how I so want to own one of them. Not much of a memory of Hennessy other then the caves and another story for another time.

Butttt best memory of Hennessy family taking us to a one person one owner operation a few Kilos away to see how a One still and just one man could help Hennessy out - The bought all he could made for a certain character he got from his own grapes and his way of doing all the many steps. Of course lots of tasting including of what came right out of the still. Better yet was a taste of what went into the still that raw wine - Vino no one would want to drink and a style that california could not duplicate. Very thin without much character.

Really good brandies in France and I assume yours is just that buttttttttt maybe do not pay for the higher priced Ascott. Look at this review nor am I about to show the source cause that source caused me great pain recently while I was making money on the election.

Today we'll examine a relatively new XO brandy to the market by the name of Ascott XO. Unfortunately, as is not normally the case in this examiner's reviews, a company history was unable to be attained. Thusly, we'll lead this article directly into the review portion now.

Review:

The first aspect one would most likely note about the brandy is that it is a beautiful copper shade as you'll also see in my included photo for the article. Unfortunately, this is roughly the only compliment that will be paid to this brandy in this article. The nose is rough and grainy with hints of grapes and caramel. A nearly undetectable floral hint closed out the examination of the aroma. Unfortunately, as is characteristic of other XO brandies and cognacs, the nose is expected to have more depth and character than this particular product is giving.

The flavor again is much too youthful or grainy for it to be labeled as a XO brandy or cognac. The requisite flourishes of fruits, vanilla, and caramel then make what almost could be described as cameo appearances before the finish gives way to a nasty burning sensation on the palate. If this was a VS brandy, it would not be graded so harshly. Unfortunately it is not, at least it is not listed as such anyway. I picked up a 750 ML bottle for around 15 dollars after taxes at my local Beverage Shoppe here in the Woodlands located at 2230 Buckthorne Place # 170, The Woodlands, TX - 281 363-2772. I would urge any readers not to however.

(Edited 3 minutes later.)

@OP
DM.

@previous (Killer Lettuce !!iNo3FkiZx)
10 MILE not not re DM Style

@OP
Reported for using the love fora while under the influence of alcohol