In Rüdesheim am Rhein, where the Rhine winds past steep vineyards, Asbach has distilled brandy since 1892. This 3 year old expression is the house's most accessible release, yet it carries the same craft roots as the older bottlings.

Expert's Description

Asbach Original 3 Year Old is a German Brandy, matured for at least 3 years, bottled at 38%.

The house of Asbach was founded in 1892 by Hugo Asbach in Rüdesheim am Rhein, and it was the first German distillery to produce brandy following the French model. The Asbach name has since become so closely tied to German brandy that many Germans use it as a generic term for the category.

The brandy is distilled from selected wine and then matured in French Limousin oak casks, which lend spiced warmth and depth even after just a few years on wood.

The short but careful maturation makes this 3 year old edition a more direct and fruit-forward experience than the house's older bottlings, suiting both everyday enjoyment and a first introduction to German brandy.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples, gentle vanilla and a hint of spiced oak.

Palate

Round and fruity with soft notes of raisin and caramel, lifted by a touch of pepper from the cask.

Finish

Short to medium, with warm spice and a final dry wood note.

Specifications

Name: Asbach Original 3 Year Old
Distillery: Asbach
Country: Germany
Type: German Brandy
Age: 3 years
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Limousin Oak
EAN no.: 4016500033116
Serving suggestion: Enjoy at room temperature, with an ice cube, or in a warm toddy

Flavour Profile

Apple · Vanilla · Caramel · Spiced Oak

Did You Know?

Asbach was the first distillery in Germany allowed to call its spirit brandy at all, because Hugo Asbach insisted on using the French distillation method instead of the cheaper German alternatives common in his day.

Eight years on oak is a long time for a German brandy, and it shows: Asbach 8 Year Old is a rounder, more contemplative take on the house's classic style, from the same Rüdesheim distillery that set the German brandy standard back in 1892.

Expert's Description

Asbach 8 Year Old is a German Brandy, matured for up to 8 years, bottled at 40%.

The brandy is produced by the respected Asbach distillery in Rüdesheim am Rhein, known since 1892 for quality brandy made in the French tradition. This 8 year old edition represents a more mature and complex version of the house's core style.

Distilled from wine and matured in small oak casks, the brandy gains a round, full character, while its natural colour and lack of chill-filtration underline an authentic, unadulterated expression.

With a medium body and balanced sweetness, the 8 year old edition appeals to both newcomers and seasoned brandy lovers seeking more depth than the house's younger bottlings.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Apple, apricot and a hint of coconut, supported by red grape.

Palate

Full and round with a clear presence of oak and a soft, ripe sweetness.

Finish

Medium length, with warm spice and a final dry wood note, without any smoke.

Specifications

Name: Asbach 8 Year Old
Distillery: Asbach
Country: Germany
Type: German Brandy
Age: 8 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak
EAN no.: 4016500013101
Serving suggestion: Enjoy after dinner as a digestif, with dessert, or alone as a sipping brandy

Flavour Profile

Apple · Apricot · Coconut · Oak

Did You Know?

Asbach 8 Year Old is made without chill-filtration and without added colouring, meaning the bottle's deep colour comes entirely from eight years of contact with the oak cask rather than from caramel colouring, as is common in many other brandies.

In Jerez, where the sun warms the sherry casks, the house of Ximénez-Spínola makes a brandy using only the Pedro Ximénez grape, the very same grape used for the district's sweetest sherries. The result is a brandy with a roundness rarely found outside the region.

Expert's Description

Bodegas Pedro Ximenez-Spinola Solera Danesa is a Spanish Brandy, bottled at 42%.

The house of Ximénez-Spínola in Jerez is known for going against the grain: while most Jerez producers work with several grape varieties, this house focuses solely on Pedro Ximénez and has made it its trademark. That focus carries through into the brandy, where the grape's natural roundness and sweet depth take the lead role.

The brandy is aged using the Solera method in former sherry casks, where younger and older vintages are continuously blended through a series of barrels. The name Solera Danesa refers to a particular ageing row in the house's cellars, originally assembled with the Danish market in mind.

The long contact with sherry-seasoned wood adds notes of dried fruit, nuts and spice that support the grape's natural sweetness without overwhelming it.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried raisins, walnut and a hint of spiced sherry.

Palate

Round and sweet, with deep fruitiness and an almost creamy texture.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering notes of dried fig and light oak.

Specifications

Name: Bodegas Pedro Ximenez-Spinola Solera Danesa
Distillery: Ximénez-Spínola
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Sherry Cask, Solera
Serving suggestion: Enjoy after the meal, alone or with dark chocolate

Flavour Profile

Raisin · Walnut · Dried Fig · Sherry

Did You Know?

Ximénez-Spínola uses only the Pedro Ximénez grape across its entire range, making it a rarity in Jerez, where most producers typically work with several different grape varieties in their brandy and sherry.

The name means ten thousand bottles, and that same spirit of scarcity has defined the house of Ximénez-Spínola since 1729. Chestnut casks older than most of us give this brandy a softness oak rarely matches.

Expert's Description

Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola Diez Mil Botellas is a Spanish Brandy, bottled at 40%.

The winery was founded in 1729 by Phelipe Zarzana Spinola and was originally called Zarzana Spinola. When a major English customer found the name impossible to pronounce, it was changed to Ximénez-Spínola, the name the house still carries today. From the outset, the house has worked exclusively with the Pedro Ximénez grape.

What sets this brandy apart is the use of chestnut casks during ageing, a tradition that nearly disappeared in Spain after the civil war of 1939, when large parts of the country's chestnut forests were felled. The casks at Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola are all at least 70 years old and therefore release only a very limited amount of tannin.

The brandy is distilled from a Solera founded in 1984 and subsequently ages for a minimum of 12 years in the old chestnut casks, giving it a rounder, softer taste than brandy aged in oak.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Unmistakable notes of plum and raisin.

Palate

Smooth with a light sweetness that masks the alcohol and lends a pleasant roundness.

Finish

Round and soft, with lingering dried fruit and a hint of spice from the chestnut wood.

Specifications

Name: Bodegas Ximenez-Spinola Diez Mil Botellas
Distillery: Ximénez-Spínola
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy
Age: Minimum 12 years, Solera
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Chestnut Wood
EAN no.: 843700199803
Serving suggestion: Enjoy after the meal, alone or with a cigar

Flavour Profile

Plum · Raisin · Dried Fruit · Chestnut Wood

Did You Know?

The casks this brandy is aged in are all at least 70 years old and date from a time when enough chestnut wood could still be found in Spain to build barrels, a tradition that largely ended after much of the country's chestnut forests were felled during the civil war.

The story goes that a cellar master in Jerez discovered some forgotten, mysterious casks tucked in a corner of the bodega back in 1889. What later became Carlos I is named after the Spanish king Charles I, portrayed on horseback by Titian after the Battle of Mühlberg.

Expert's Description

Carlos I Imperial XO is a Spanish Brandy de Jerez, bottled at 38%.

The brandy is produced by the house of Osborne, founded in 1772 in El Puerto de Santa María at the heart of the Jerez district, one of Spain's oldest and most respected houses in sherry and brandy. Carlos I is traditionally distilled from the Airén grape using alquitaras, pot stills of Arab origin.

Maturation follows the dynamic criaderas y soleras system, where younger and older brandy are continuously blended through a series of American oak casks that previously held sherry. For Imperial XO, the casks average more than 20 years old, giving the brandy an unusual depth.

The dynamic system means each bottle holds brandy of many different ages, brought together through decades of careful blending rather than a single vintage.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and liquorice meet a deep sherry character from the old casks.

Palate

Soft and light on the palate, with a pleasant feel balanced by the vanilla and liquorice tones.

Finish

Medium length and round, with lingering sweetness and a hint of dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Carlos I Imperial XO
Distillery: Carlos I, Osborne
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy de Jerez
Age: Average over 20 years, Solera
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: American Oak, ex-Sherry
EAN no.: 8410337016087
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat after the meal, ideally at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Liquorice · Sherry · Dried Fruit

Did You Know?

The Carlos I name comes from a painting by Titian depicting the Spanish king Charles I on horseback after the Battle of Mühlberg in 1548, and the portrait still adorns the bottle's label to this day.

Where Imperial XO draws its depth from casks that have rested for decades, Solera Gran Reserva is a more youthful, yet still sherry-driven expression from the same house, where the aroma of the former sherry casks remains clear in the glass.

Expert's Description

Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Sherry Cask is a Spanish Brandy de Jerez, bottled at 40%.

Like the rest of the house's brandy, Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva is produced by Osborne, founded in 1772 in El Puerto de Santa María, and is traditionally distilled using alquitaras, pot stills of Arab origin.

Maturation follows the same dynamic criaderas y soleras system as the rest of the range, but here the casks average around 10 years old, giving a fresher, more sherry-forward style than the much older Imperial XO.

The shorter ageing means the character from the former sherry casks is more prominent, while the brandy's own sweetness and spice keep the balance.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla and liquorice sit close to a clear sherry tone.

Palate

Soft and light on the palate, with a pleasant roundness where the sherry's dryness meets the brandy's sweetness.

Finish

Short to medium, with a final, dry sherry note.

Specifications

Name: Carlos I Solera Gran Reserva Sherry Cask
Distillery: Carlos I, Osborne
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy de Jerez
Age: Average 10 years, Solera
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Ex-Sherry Cask
EAN no.: 8410337017084
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat after the meal, ideally at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Liquorice · Sherry · Spice

Did You Know?

Both Solera Gran Reserva and Imperial XO come from the same dynamic solera system at Osborne, but because the solera is constantly drawn from and replenished with younger brandy, the two expressions are never quite identical from bottle to bottle.

In the Douro Valley, where the river cuts through terraced vineyards, the house of Dalva has distilled its wines into brandy for more than a hundred years. Dalva Brandy VSOP carries that warm, southern heritage into the glass.

Expert's Description

Dalva Brandy VSOP is a Portuguese Brandy, aged in oak casks and bottled at 36%.

The house behind the bottle, C. da Silva, was founded in 1862 and forms part of the historic Port wine tradition in the Douro Valley. Alongside Port, the family has for generations also distilled Douro grapes into brandy under the Dalva name.

The brandy is made from the classic Douro grape varieties Touriga Nacional, Touriga Franca, Tinta Roriz, Tinta Barroca and Tinto Cão, and has gained a round, harmonious character from oak ageing, with soft notes of dried fruit and vanilla.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers dried fruit and vanilla with a touch of warm spice.

Palate

The palate is round and full-bodied with ripe raisins and a touch of oak that gives good structure.

Finish

The finish is warm and elegant, closing softly with a hint of spice.

Specifications

Name: Dalva Brandy VSOP
Distillery: C. da Silva (Dalva)
Country: Portugal
Type: Portuguese Brandy
ABV: 36%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks
Serving suggestion: Enjoy as an after-dinner drink, in cocktails, or as a quiet pleasure on its own.

Flavour Profile

Dried fruit · Vanilla · Raisin · Spice

Did You Know?

Did you know that Dalva Brandy is made from the same grape varieties used to produce Port wine in the Douro Valley? That is one of the reasons the brandy has such a full, fruity character.

In Schiavon near Bassano del Grappa, in the heart of Veneto, the Poli family has distilled since 1898. This brandy is the house's take on what happens when grappa craftsmanship turns its attention to wine instead of pomace.

Expert's Description

Brandy Italiano Di Poli is an Italian Brandy, bottled at 40%.

The distillery was founded in 1898 by GioBatta Poli, who started with a mobile still and produced grappa from local pomace for the region's winemakers. Today the house is run by the fourth generation, siblings Jacopo, Andrea and Barbara Poli, who still distil on an old copper alembic.

This brandy is made from wine of the Trebbiano grape from the Soave area, setting it apart from the house's well-known grappas, which are distilled from pomace. The spirit is aged for a full 10 years, partly in Slovenian oak casks and partly in French Allier and Limousin casks.

The long, varied cask ageing gives the brandy an aristocratic warmth and a dark glow that sets it apart from many younger Italian brandies.

Tasting Notes

Nose

A lightly exotic aroma of dried fruit, mocha and vanilla.

Palate

Full-bodied and nicely rounded, with warm spice tones from the different cask types.

Finish

Long and warm, with lingering notes of mocha and dried fruit.

Specifications

Name: Brandy Italiano Di Poli
Distillery: Poli
Country: Italy
Type: Italian Brandy
Age: 10 years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Slovenian Oak and French Allier/Limousin Oak
EAN no.: 8014115000550
Serving suggestion: An ideal companion to a good cigar, or enjoyed alone after the meal

Flavour Profile

Dried Fruit · Mocha · Vanilla · Spice

Did You Know?

The Poli family's story did not begin with a still, but with a tavern at Schiavon's train station in 1885, where GioBatta Poli sold wine, beer and straw hats, thirteen years before he turned his attention to the art of distillation.

In Jerez de la Frontera, where the Andalusian sun beats down on whitewashed bodega walls, the Domecq family has aged brandy by the same principle for close to three centuries. Fundador Old Version carries that legacy forward, cask by cask, vintage by vintage.

Expert's Description

Fundador Old Version Pedro Domecq is a Spanish Brandy matured through the solera method in ex-sherry casks of American oak, bottled at 38.5%.

The house of Pedro Domecq traces its roots back to 1730, when the Irish merchant Patrick Murphy founded a bodega in Jerez de la Frontera. Roughly a century later, the French wine trader Pedro Domecq Lembeye took over the business and gave it his name, and in 1874 the house created Fundador, the first Spanish brandy ever marketed under the name Brandy de Jerez.

The brandy matures in the same bodegas that hold Jerez's famous sherry, moving through a solera system of stacked casks where young brandy gradually absorbs character from older vintages before it is finally drawn from the bottom row. It is a slow process that gives Fundador Old Version its rounded, dark character.

The Old Version bottling is a nod to the house's classic style, the way it tasted long before Fundador conquered the international market. It shows the brandy without ornament, just craft, time and the damp bodega walls that mark the wood, year after year.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried figs and walnut meet a sherry sweetness from the casks, backed by caramel and a faint oxidative, nutty edge.

Palate

A wave of raisin and caramelised sugar, with a touch of dark chocolate, spiced oak and orange peel.

Finish

Long and warm, with notes of dried fruit before a last trace of sherry oak slowly fades.

Specifications

Name: Fundador Old Version Pedro Domecq
Producer: Fundador, Pedro Domecq
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy
ABV: 38.5%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Solera-aged in ex-sherry casks of American oak
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a cognac glass, ideally as a digestif after dinner

Flavour Profile

Sherry Cask · Caramel · Dried Fruit · Spiced Oak

Did You Know?

Did you know that Fundador was the very first brandy ever marketed under the name Brandy de Jerez, back in 1874, a name that has since become a protected designation of origin reserved for brandy matured in this corner of Andalusia.

150 centilitres of hand-crafted plum brandy in a single bottle is not just a larger portion — it is an invitation to slow down. Louis Roque's Magnum of La Vieille Prune is made for long evenings, where the bottle travels around the table, glass after glass.

Expert's Description

La Vieille Prune Louis Roque Magnum is a French Plum Brandy in a 150 CL bottle, distilled in traditional copper stills and matured in oak casks, bottled at 42%.

Behind the bottle stands the Louis Roque distillery in Souillac in the Lot region, founded in 1905 by Louis Roque, the third generation of a family already known for its distilling skill. He specialised in high-quality fruit brandy made from pears and plums sourced from local growers, laying the foundation for one of France's best-known names in plum brandy.

Today the distillery is run by Louis Roque's grandson, after his daughter carried the business forward before him. The recipe for La Vieille Prune has never been written down and is only shared within the family.

The Magnum bottle holds exactly the same brandy as the house's classic 70 CL bottle: a blend of three plum varieties — the red Ente, the yellow Mirabelle and the green Reine-Claude — naturally fermented, double distilled and matured for four to five years in 400-litre oak casks with no added sugar. The larger bottle simply means the same craftsmanship and quality now stretches further.

As with the house's other bottles, every Magnum is sealed with a cork and wax, and the label is applied by hand.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is rich and fruity, with ripe plums up front, supported by faint notes of almond and a touch of dried apricot.

Palate

On the palate the brandy unfolds with concentrated plum fruit, a hint of honey and a warm spice note that speaks of the long cask maturation.

Finish

The finish is soft and lingering, with a last sweetness of dried fruit and a light woody character.

Specifications

Name: La Vieille Prune Louis Roque Magnum
Distillery: Louis Roque
Country: France
Type: French Plum Brandy
ABV: 42%
Size: 150 CL
Cask type: Oak casks, 400 litres
Serving suggestion: Enjoy at room temperature in a cognac glass, ideally shared with good friends over several rounds.

Flavour Profile

Rich plum · Honey · Spice · Soft finish

Did You Know?

Did you know that the term Magnum originally comes from the world of wine, where the large bottle format is traditionally used for drinks meant to be enjoyed over a longer time in good company? At Louis Roque, the format carries the same idea over to the plum brandy: a bottle made to be shared, sip by sip, across several good occasions.

In Souillac, where the Lot river winds through south-western France, the Roque family has distilled plums into brandy since 1905. The recipe has never left the family, the stills are still copper, and every bottle is sealed by hand, just as it was when Louis Roque himself stood over them.

Expert's Description

La Vieille Prune Louis Roque is a French Plum Brandy, distilled in traditional copper stills and matured in oak casks, bottled at 42%.

Through the 1800s, the Roque family was already known locally for its distilling craft, a knowledge passed from father to son. In 1905, Louis Roque, the third generation of the family, founded his own distillery in Souillac in the Lot region and specialised in high-quality fruit brandy made from pears and plums sourced from local growers.

After Louis Roque's death, his daughter carried the distillery forward with respect for his methods, and today his grandson leads it. The blend of plum varieties behind La Vieille Prune remains a closely guarded family secret.

The brandy is made from three carefully selected plum varieties: the red Ente, the yellow Mirabelle and the green Reine-Claude. The fruit ferments naturally, is double distilled in copper stills and then rests for four to five years in 400-litre oak casks with no added sugar.

Every bottle is sealed with a cork and wax, and the label is applied by hand — a final craft step that keeps production slow but the result singular.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers ripe plums and a touch of marzipan, carried by dried raisins and a gentle spiced warmth from the cask.

Palate

On the palate, the brandy shows real depth, with concentrated plum fruit, a hint of liquorice and a nutty note carried by the long cask maturation.

Finish

The finish is warm and lingering, with a last trace of spice and dried fruit that stays long after the final sip.

Specifications

Name: La Vieille Prune Louis Roque
Distillery: Louis Roque
Country: France
Type: French Plum Brandy
ABV: 42%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak casks, 400 litres
EAN no.: 3458530030047
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a cognac glass, ideally to round off a meal.

Flavour Profile

Ripe plum · Marzipan · Spice · Long finish

Did You Know?

Did you know that the recipe for La Vieille Prune has never left the Roque family? The blend of the three plum varieties is a closely guarded secret, passed down only from generation to generation, never written down and never shared outside the family.

Some bottles tell a story before the cork is even out. This one was distilled in France in 1993, rested there for decades, and finally crossed the North Sea to be bottled in Scotland — and it is exactly that journey which gives it its name on the label.

Expert's Description

Little Brown Dog Petit Chien Brun 30 Year Old is a French Brandy, Single Cask, distilled in 1993 and bottled at 50.1%.

The spirit was distilled on 30 November 1993 and matured in France for many years, before the cask was moved to Scotland for the final stage of its ageing and bottled on 26 October 2024. Because the rules governing the term Cognac require bottling to take place within the region itself, this bottle cannot legally carry the name Cognac on its label — even though it was distilled and originally matured in France exactly as a Cognac would be, and the character reflects that.

Behind the release stands Little Brown Dog Spirits, an independent bottler and micro-distillery based in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland. The house was founded in 2018 by Dr Andrew Smith and Chris Reid and has since become known for single cask whisky, world spirits, rum, calvados and brandy of high quality.

The French distillery that originally produced this spirit has not been disclosed by Little Brown Dog — the source distillery remains a closely guarded secret. Only 232 bottles have been drawn from this single cask, and it has been bottled at its natural cask strength with no water added, making this release especially sought after among connoisseurs.

The colour in the glass is strikingly close to a classic Grande Champagne Cognac — a small curiosity for a bottle that officially carries the name brandy.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers Sirop de Liège, the sweet French syrup made from apples and pears, alongside forest moss and a distant scent of an old antique shop.

Palate

The palate is rich and layered, with caramelised pineapple, apricot tart and a buttery pastry note that almost melts on the tongue.

Finish

The finish is long and warm, with a sweetness reminiscent of Highland toffee, spiced with cinnamon and nutmeg.

Specifications

Name: Little Brown Dog Petit Chien Brun 30 Year Old
Bottler: Little Brown Dog Spirits
Country: France
Type: French Brandy, Single Cask
Age: 1993/2024
ABV: 50.1%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy in a nosing glass at room temperature, ideally with a few drops of water to open up the aromas.

Flavour Profile

Caramelised fruit · Toffee · Spice · Antique charm

Investment Potential

Rating: Medium. Rare single cask releases from respected independent bottlers such as Little Brown Dog are often sought after by collectors, especially when the outturn is as limited as here. With only 232 bottles from this one cask, bottled at natural strength, this is the kind of release that has historically been known to trade for several times its original release price on the secondary market as it becomes harder to find.

Did You Know?

Did you know that Petit Chien Brun is French for Little Brown Dog? The name is a playful nod to the bottler's own name, written in the language of the region where the spirit was originally distilled.

Six weeks. That is all that stood between this cask and its 32nd birthday. But at Little Brown Dog, they did not wait — some casks have nothing to gain from holding back any longer, only something to lose.

Expert's Description

Little Brown Dog Petit Chien Brun 31 Year Old is a French Brandy, Single Cask, distilled in 1993 and bottled at 50.8%.

The spirit was distilled on 30 November 1993 and laid down in cask that same day in France. The cask was later moved to Scotland, where it was bottled by the independent bottler Little Brown Dog Spirits on 17 October 2025 — just six weeks short of reaching 32 years in cask. Because bottling took place outside France, the bottle cannot carry the name Cognac, even though it is distilled and matured exactly as a Grande Champagne Cognac would be.

This release is a sister cask to Little Brown Dog's earlier Early Landed Late Bottled series of vintage French brandies, in which the spirit is distilled and matured in France before being moved to Scotland for the final stage of ageing. Only 210 bottles have been drawn from this single cask, in natural colour, with no added caramel colouring and no chill filtration.

Little Brown Dog Spirits is an independent bottler and micro-distillery based in rural Aberdeenshire, Scotland, founded in 2018 by Dr Andrew Smith and Chris Reid. The French distillery the spirit originally came from has not been disclosed.

In the glass, the brandy shows a dark, fruit-forward colour that many describe as reminiscent of the well-known British drink Vimto — deep and inviting to look at.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers blackcurrant juice, prune juice and dried heather — dark and fruity from the very first sniff.

Palate

The palate unfolds classic French notes: Pruneaux d'Agen, the celebrated French prunes, wild strawberry jam and marrons glacés, all carried on a silky, mature texture.

Finish

The finish leaves dark chocolate-coated cherries that linger long on the palate.

Specifications

Name: Little Brown Dog Petit Chien Brun 31 Year Old
Bottler: Little Brown Dog Spirits
Country: France
Type: French Brandy, Single Cask
Age: 1993/2025
ABV: 50.8%
Size: 70 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy in a nosing glass at room temperature, ideally in a quiet moment with time to explore the aromas.

Flavour Profile

Dark fruit · Chocolate · Heather · Full texture

Investment Potential

Rating: Medium. Releases like this one, with a very small outturn from a single cask and a solid age, typically attract strong interest from collectors of French oak-aged spirits. As bottles become harder to find, rare single cask releases from respected independent bottlers like this are often seen trading at a marked premium over their original release price on the secondary market.

Did You Know?

Did you know that the label pays tribute to the two earlier releases in the same series? The French racing blue from the first release is combined with the Fleur-de-Lis motif from the second — a visual nod to France, where this brandy was originally distilled, and to the old Auld Alliance between Scotland and France.

Not every Spanish brandy needs to be heavy and contemplative. Lustau's Solera Reserva is the house's entry point into the world of Jerez brandy — lighter on its feet, yet still built on the same centuries-old method.

Expert's Description

Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva is a Spanish Brandy de Jerez, matured in former Amontillado sherry casks through the traditional solera system, bottled at 40%.

Behind the bottle stands Bodegas Lustau, whose history begins in 1896, when José Ruiz-Berdejo, a court secretary in Jerez, began growing vines in his spare time on the family estate Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza. His daughter María Ruiz-Berdejo and her husband Emilio Lustau Ortega later took over and developed the company, focusing on export and quality. Today Lustau is based in Jerez de la Frontera and is considered one of the most respected houses within Brandy de Jerez.

Solera Reserva is the house's more approachable tier, with a shorter maturation time than the deeper Gran Reserva expression. The base spirit is made from the Airen and Palomino Fino grape varieties, and maturation takes place exclusively in casks that previously held Amontillado sherry — it is precisely these casks that give the brandy its characteristic nutty, slightly dry profile.

The result is a soft, balanced brandy that shows just how much character the Jerez tradition can give even a lighter expression.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose offers vanilla, bitter orange marmalade and a touch of dried fruit.

Palate

The palate is soft and balanced, with a fine combination of dryness and sweetness, where nuts, spices and toasted oak unfold on the tongue.

Finish

The finish is long, smooth and nutty, with a warming close.

Specifications

Name: Lustau Brandy de Jerez Solera Reserva
Distillery: Bodegas Lustau
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy de Jerez
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Former Amontillado sherry casks, solera system
EAN no.: 8412325003024
Serving suggestion: Enjoy to round off a good meal, ideally alongside dark chocolate or a good cigar.

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Bitter orange · Nuts · Nutty finish

Did You Know?

Did you know that Airen is one of the world's most widely planted white grape varieties, grown mainly in the Spanish region of La Mancha? Together with Palomino Fino, the classic grape of the Jerez triangle, it forms the base spirit behind this brandy.

In Jerez de la Frontera, rows of old sherry casks are stacked one above the other, each cask a little older than the next. It is here, in the traditional solera system, that Lustau lets its brandy grow deeper year by year, cask by cask.

Expert's Description

Lustau Solera Gran Reserva is a Spanish Brandy de Jerez, matured in former sherry casks through the traditional solera system, bottled at 40%.

The house's history dates back to 1896, when José Ruiz-Berdejo, a court secretary in Jerez, began growing vines in his spare time on the family estate Nuestra Señora de la Esperanza. His daughter María Ruiz-Berdejo and her husband Emilio Lustau Ortega later carried the business forward and developed it further, with Emilio focusing seriously on export and quality. Today Bodegas Lustau is one of the most respected names within Brandy de Jerez, based in Jerez de la Frontera.

Gran Reserva is the deepest and most concentrated expression in the house's brandy range. Through the classic criaderas y solera system, the brandy is gradually moved through rows of casks that previously held sherry, giving it a marked aromatic complexity and a depth that takes time to build.

In the glass, the brandy is dark mahogany with a warm, amber glow — a visual promise of the depth waiting in the next sip.

Tasting Notes

Nose

The nose is rich and layered, with dried fruit, vanilla and toasted oak, carried by a subtle sweetness from the sherry casks.

Palate

The palate is concentrated and silky with real depth: raisins, figs, burnt sugar and toffee, supported by pronounced oak that gives structure and length.

Finish

The finish is long, warm and harmonious, with a last trace of nuts and spice.

Specifications

Name: Lustau Solera Gran Reserva
Distillery: Bodegas Lustau
Country: Spain
Type: Spanish Brandy de Jerez
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Former sherry casks, solera system
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed slowly after a meal, ideally alongside dark chocolate, nuts or a good cigar.

Flavour Profile

Dried fruit · Toffee · Toasted oak · Long finish

Did You Know?

Did you know that the word solera comes from the Spanish suelo, meaning floor or ground? The name refers to the lowest and oldest row of casks in the system, from which the brandy is finally drawn, while new spirit is continuously added to the top rows and slowly blends downward over the years.

On the coast at Zadar, where the Adriatic sun ripens the small, dark Marasca cherries into something both sweet and tart, cherry liqueur has been part of daily life for centuries. It is this fruit and this coastal town that come together in every bottle of Maraska Maraschino.

Expert's Description

Maraschino Maraska Cherry Liqueur is a Croatian cherry liqueur made from Marasca cherries grown around Zadar, bottled at 32%.

The Maraschino tradition in Zadar dates back to the 1500s, when the city was under Venetian rule and Dominican monks first distilled the local Marasca cherry into a sweet, aromatic liqueur. In 1759, Venetian merchant Francesco Drioli began proper industrial production in the city, and through the 1800s several respected houses followed the same path, including Luxardo.

After the Second World War, Zadar's historic distilleries were nationalised and merged into a single company under the name Maraska, founded in 1945. Production still takes place at one of the city's former distillery sites, and the house continues a local Maraschino tradition that stretches back several hundred years.

The Marasca cherry is known for its concentrated, slightly tart flavour, and it is this fruit that gives the liqueur its deep cherry character and has made it a classic in bars and kitchens around the world.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe, dark cherry leads the way, with a touch of almond and a light floral undertone.

Palate

Full and sweet with a distinct cherry intensity, carried by a gentle tartness that keeps the liqueur fresh rather than cloying.

Finish

Long and aromatic, with a lingering hint of cherry stone and a light bittersweet close.

Specifications

Name: Maraschino Maraska Cherry Liqueur
Distillery: Maraska
Country: Croatia
Type: Croatian Cherry Liqueur
ABV: 32%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 3850158404307
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled in a small glass as a digestif, or use it as an ingredient in cocktails and desserts and baking.

Flavour Profile

Cherry · Almond · Sweetness · Aromatic

Did You Know?

Maraska's current production takes place on the grounds of one of Zadar's old, historic distilleries, which became part of the company when the city's distilleries were merged after the Second World War.

There are bottles you open on an ordinary Tuesday, and there are bottles you save for the right occasion. Metaxa 12 Stars belongs to the latter – the house's deepest, most complex expression, kept back for the evenings that deserve a little more.

Expert's Description

Metaxa 12 Stars is a Greek brandy built on aged grape eaux-de-vie and sweet muscat wines, bottled at 40%.

12 Stars sits at the top of Metaxa's star hierarchy and carries the largest share of older eaux-de-vie in the entire range. The base recipe remains the same one Spyros Metaxas put together in Piraeus in 1888: grape eaux-de-vie from several varieties, aged muscat wines from Samos and Lemnos, and a secret mix of Mediterranean botanicals.

Where 5 and 7 Stars are made for everyday moments and gatherings, 12 Stars is traditionally the bottle Greeks bring out at holidays and family celebrations – a gesture that the occasion deserves the house's most concentrated expression.

After Spyros Metaxas died in 1909, his wife Despina carried the company forward until their sons could take over, and today the house is owned by French group Rémy Cointreau. The recipe and the long ageing behind 12 Stars, however, remain unchanged.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Deep and complex, with dried fig, dark chocolate and a warm, almost resinous spice base.

Palate

Full and silky, with toasted walnut, brown sugar and a hint of orange marmalade tying it all together.

Finish

Long and warm, closing on a dry, lightly bitter trail of dark spice.

Specifications

Name: Metaxa 12 Stars
Distillery: Metaxa
Country: Greece
Type: Greek Brandy
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5202795150280
Serving suggestion: Enjoy neat, ideally in a rounded glass at room temperature

Flavour Profile

Dried Fig · Dark Chocolate · Walnut · Spice

Did You Know?

12 Stars sits closest to the concentrated original style Spyros Metaxas himself favoured – in Greece it is still considered the natural bottle to bring to family celebrations and holidays, where it is often poured neat after the meal.

Dusk settles over the port of Piraeus, where the scent of roasted nuts and ripe grapes drifts through the tavernas, and the glass on the counter rarely stays empty for long. Metaxa 5 Stars is the bottle reached for first when the evening begins – light, golden, and carrying a trace of Mediterranean warmth.

Expert's Description

Metaxa 5 Stars is a Greek brandy built on aged grape eaux-de-vie and sweet muscat wines, bottled at 38%.

Strictly speaking, Metaxa is not a pure brandy but the house's own invention: a blend of grape eaux-de-vie distilled from grapes including Savatiano, Sultana and black Corinth, combined with aged, sweet muscat wines from the islands of Samos and Lemnos and a secret mix of Mediterranean botanicals. The recipe dates back to 1888, when Spyros Metaxas founded his house in the port city of Piraeus, and the herbal blend remains a closely guarded secret to this day.

5 Stars sits at the entry point of Metaxa's star hierarchy and carries the youngest share of eaux-de-vie in the range. The stars do not signal age the way a vintage year would – instead they indicate how large a proportion of older distillate goes into the blend, and the more stars, the deeper and rounder the character becomes.

Today Metaxa is part of the French spirits house Rémy Cointreau, though production still takes place in Greece, where distillate and muscat wine are brought together following the same base recipe as more than a century ago.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh grapes and a touch of honey meet a hint of orange peel and light spice – inviting and light rather than heavy.

Palate

Soft and round, with ripe grapes, caramelised sugar and a faint herbal note that adds depth without taking over.

Finish

Short to medium, mildly sweet, closing with a gentle spiced warmth.

Specifications

Name: Metaxa 5 Stars
Distillery: Metaxa
Country: Greece
Type: Greek Brandy
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5202795120054
Serving suggestion: Enjoy over ice or as the base of a light long drink

Flavour Profile

Grape Eau-de-Vie · Honey · Orange Peel · Light Spice

Did You Know?

The stars on a Metaxa label do not mark years of ageing the way whisky age statements do – they instead show the share of older eaux-de-vie in the final blend, a system Spyros Metaxas himself introduced so the house could control style without being tied to a single vintage year.

A dark amphora rests heavy in the hand, as though pulled straight from an ancient shipwreck in the Aegean Sea. Behind the glass waits Metaxa 7 Stars, deeper and rounder than its younger sibling, ready to tell its own part of the story from the port of Piraeus.

Expert's Description

Metaxa 7 Stars is a Greek brandy built on aged grape eaux-de-vie and sweet muscat wines, bottled at 40%.

Like the rest of the family, 7 Stars is not a pure brandy but a blend of grape eaux-de-vie made from grapes including Savatiano and Sultana, aged muscat wines from Samos and Lemnos, and a secret herbal mix – a recipe Spyros Metaxas developed in Piraeus in 1888 and one the house still follows today.

The iconic amphora design many associate with this particular bottle was created by Greek designer Yiannis Tseklenis and draws on the ancient clay vessels once used to carry wine and oil across the Mediterranean. The shape has become one of the most recognisable features of the entire Metaxa family.

With seven stars, the bottle sits in the middle of the house hierarchy and carries a larger share of older eaux-de-vie than 5 Stars, giving it a rounder, fuller character without losing the freshness the house is known for.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried apricot and raisin meet a warm caramel note and a hint of muscat – fuller than the younger expression.

Palate

Round and soft, with dark honey, toasted almonds and a gentle spiced warmth that spreads slowly.

Finish

Medium length, with a dry, lightly spiced finish and a last trace of muscat.

Specifications

Name: Metaxa 7 Stars
Distillery: Metaxa
Country: Greece
Type: Greek Brandy
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 5202795130022
Serving suggestion: Enjoy at room temperature or over ice

Flavour Profile

Dried Fruit · Caramel · Almond · Muscat

Did You Know?

The signature amphora bottle Metaxa 7 Stars is poured from was designed by acclaimed Greek fashion designer Yiannis Tseklenis and takes its shape directly from the clay vessels ancient Greeks used to carry wine across the sea.

In Fjerritslev, where the low North Jutland sky meets fields and orchards, pears from the Alexander Lucas trees are distilled into a clear, fragrant spirit that carries the sweetness of autumn straight into the glass.

Expert's Description

Nordisk Brænderi Alexander Lucas Pear Brandy is a Danish fruit spirit distilled from Alexander Lucas pears, bottled at 40%.

Nordisk Brænderi is based in Fjerritslev in North Jutland and was founded in 2009 by Anders Bilgram. The first drops were distilled on home-built copper stills, and Anders's background as a chemist gave a solid foundation for the recipes the distillery has developed since.

The Alexander Lucas pear is known for its juicy, aromatic character, and when the fruit is fermented and distilled in the French eau-de-vie style, much of that fresh pear character carries through into the finished spirit – a craft that demands large quantities of fruit for a comparatively small yield of spirit.

The style echoes classic French Poire brandy, but the fruit itself is thoroughly Danish, grown and distilled within a short distance of the distillery's copper stills.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe pear, a touch of flower honey and a light citrus-like freshness.

Palate

Clean and fruit-driven with clear pear character, a silky texture and a mild sweetness.

Finish

Short to medium, clean and refreshing, with a last hint of pear skin.

Specifications

Name: Alexander Lucas Pear Brandy
Distillery: Nordisk Brænderi
Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Fruit Brandy
ABV: 40%
Size: 35 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled as a digestif after the meal

Flavour Profile

Pear · Flower Honey · Fresh Acidity · Pure Fruit

Did You Know?

Before Nordisk Brænderi became a reality, founder Anders Bilgram set out on a 26,000-kilometre expedition around the Arctic in an open boat. Along the way, locals repeatedly offered him their own home-distilled spirits, and it was there the idea of starting a distillery of his own in North Jutland truly took shape.

Autumn light slants through the apple trees of North Jutland, and the scent of ripe Filippa apples mixes with damp earth after rain – the same scent that, as a child, sent you sneaking into the neighbour's garden after the sweetest fruit.

Expert's Description

Nordisk Brænderi Filippa Apple Brandy is a Danish fruit spirit distilled from Filippa apples, bottled at 40%.

Nordisk Brænderi in Fjerritslev, founded in 2009 by Anders Bilgram, gathers the best fruit from North Jutland orchards, ferments it and distils it on home-built copper stills into what the French call eau-de-vie, and what we simply call fruit brandy at home.

Filippa is an old apple variety that has been grown in Denmark for generations, prized for its firm texture and its winey, aromatic flavour – qualities that make it well suited to distillation, since the character survives the whole process.

The result is a clear spirit where both aroma and flavour stay close to the apple itself, with no added sugar or colour.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apple, a touch of pressed juice and a light winey sweetness.

Palate

Distinctly fruity with clear apple character, balanced alcohol and a pleasant fullness on the palate.

Finish

Medium length, clean and lightly tangy, closing on a hint of apple skin.

Specifications

Name: Filippa Apple Brandy
Distillery: Nordisk Brænderi
Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Fruit Brandy
ABV: 40%
Size: 35 CL
Serving suggestion: Enjoy chilled as a digestif after the meal

Flavour Profile

Apple · Pressed Juice · Winey Sweetness · Pure Fruit

Did You Know?

In French this style of spirit is called eau-de-vie, meaning water of life, while in Danish it is simply called fruit brandy – but the method is the same: the best fruit is gathered, fermented, distilled and bottled, with no shortcuts taken.

Once, the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio suggested Italianising the French word Cognac into something more native: Acquarzente, later shortened to Arzente. Poli embraced the name and built a brandy that insists on being Italian down to the last detail, from the grape to the final year in oak.

Expert's Description

Poli Arzente Italiano Brandy is an Italian Brandy from the Jacopo Poli distillery, bottled at 40%.

Behind the bottle stands the Poli family, who have distilled in Schiavon near Bassano del Grappa in the Veneto since 1898, one of Italy's most respected regions for grape distillates. Across four generations the family has kept faith with an old copper alembic, one of the few of its kind still in use, giving the distillates their characteristic balance of power and elegance.

Arzente is made from 100% Trebbiano grapes and sets itself apart from the house's better-known grappa by being a grape brandy in the Cognac style rather than a pomace distillate. The name Arzente comes from an old Italian term that, according to tradition, dates back to the time of Catherine de' Medici, when a similar distillate was used as a fortifying drink.

The brandy is aged for a full ten years, spread across French Limousin casks, French Allier oak and Slovenian oak, a combination that gives it the layered depth the house is known for.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Vanilla, warm spice and dried fruit, with an underlying sweetness from the years spent in oak.

Palate

Round and elegant, with a pleasant warmth and a ripe, grape-driven sweetness that stays balanced without turning heavy.

Finish

Long, with a final trace of spiced wood and a gentle, lingering warmth.

Specifications

Name: Poli Arzente Italiano Brandy
Producer: Jacopo Poli
Country: Italy
Type: Italian Brandy
Age: 10 Years
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Limousin, French Allier and Slovenian oak casks
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed slowly as a digestif, at room temperature in a small brandy glass after a meal.

Flavour Profile

Vanilla · Spice · Dried Fruit · Gentle Warmth

Did You Know?

Did you know the name Arzente comes from an old Italian term for grape brandy, once proposed by the poet Gabriele D'Annunzio as an Italian alternative to the French word Cognac?

The name Scharlachberg comes from a vineyard site in Bingen-Büdesheim, but for over a hundred years it has stood for something quite different from wine – a brandy style that insisted on taking the time it needed, whatever the law demanded.

Expert's Description

Scharlachberg Meisterbrand is a German Brandy distilled by Weinbrennerei Scharlachberg, bottled at 38%.

The house was founded in 1898 by Friedrich Wilhelm Petzsch as a cognac distillery and moved to Bingen on the Rhine in 1911. After the Treaty of Versailles in 1919, the name had to change to Weinbrennerei Scharlachberg, taken from the Scharlachberg vineyard site itself in Rheinhessen – and in 1920 Meisterbrand reached the market for the first time as a domestic answer to expensive French imports.

Scharlachberg guarantees that only high-quality wines are used for distillation, where the core is drawn off through a careful, high-purity process. Ageing takes place in oak casks for longer than German law requires for the category, giving the spirit time to gather the golden colour and soft vanilla tones the house is known for.

The style behind this bottling dates back to the 1970s, when Scharlachberg had already established itself as one of the most solid names in German Weinbrand.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Toasted oak and vanilla, with a lightly spiced sweetness and a hint of dried grapes.

Palate

Soft and round, with warm wood tones carried by a discreet sweetness rather than sharpness.

Finish

Medium length, drying toward the end, with a last hint of spice.

Specifications

Name: Scharlachberg Meisterbrand
Distillery: Scharlachberg
Country: Germany
Type: German Brandy
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: German oak
EAN no.: 4006296200106
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature in a brandy glass, ideally as a digestif

Flavour Profile

Toasted oak · Vanilla · Spice · Dried grapes

Did You Know?

Scharlachberg started out as a cognac distillery, but had to change its name and terminology when the Treaty of Versailles banned German producers from using the word cognac in 1919 – a history the house shares with several other German brandy houses from the same period.

On the slopes at Dons, near Kolding, Sven Moesgaard planted his first 4,000 vines in 1998. What began as Denmark's first authorised vineyard has since made room for something far rarer in a Danish context: a brandy distilled from its own grapes and bottled at full cask strength.

Expert's Description

Skærsøgaard 2007 Cask Strength is a Danish Brandy distilled from Danish grapes, bottled at 62%.

In 2000, Skærsøgaard Vin became the first Danish vineyard with EU approval, and since 2006 it has, alongside wine, also produced its own spirits and fruit wines across its 5.5 hectares. This brandy comes from the 2007 vintage and is distilled from Skærsøgaard's own grapes, grown in the long Jutland summer light which, according to the vineyard, gives the grapes a slow, aromatic ripening.

The spirit has matured for 8 years in oak casks and is bottled without dilution, at full cask strength – a style that shows the distillate completely unfiltered, with all the intensity it has built up in the cask.

As a Limited Edition, this 2007 vintage offers a rare glimpse of what Danish terroir can produce when distilled rather than turned into wine.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Intense grape sweetness and warm oak, with a powerful alcohol weight that underlines the cask strength.

Palate

Full and concentrated, with dried fruit, caramel and a distinct warmth from the 62%.

Finish

Long and intense, with a lingering wood and spice note.

Specifications

Name: Skærsøgaard 2007 Cask Strength
Distillery: Skærsøgaard Vin
Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Brandy
Age: 8 years
ABV: 62%
Size: 35 CL
Cask type: Oak, full cask strength
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed in a small glass, ideally with a few drops of water to open the aromas

Flavour Profile

Grape sweetness · Oak · Caramel · Spice

Did You Know?

Skærsøgaard was the first Danish vineyard to receive EU approval for commercial wine production in 2000, and has since also made its mark with spirits distilled from its own grapes – something very few Danish producers can say about themselves.

In Zadar on the Dalmatian coast, distilling fruit has been a craft since 1821. Sljivovica is not a modern invention but a spirit that has followed the Balkans through generations, long before anyone called it craft.

Expert's Description

Sljivovica Maraska is a Plum Brandy from Croatia, bottled at 40%.

Maraska traces its roots back to 1821 in the port city of Zadar and is today regarded as one of Croatia's most respected distilleries. The Sljivovica is made from ripe plums from the Adriatic Hinterlands, one of the world's most acclaimed plum-growing regions, where mineral-rich soil and a warm climate give the fruit an intense sweetness.

Production follows the classic method for slivovitz: the fruit comes from trees at least 20 years old, the mash ferments for three months in large 2,000-gallon tanks, and the spirit is double-distilled for purity and depth. After distillation it is aged for at least two years in specially treated 500-gallon oak casks.

The result is a harmonious, traditional plum brandy that carries both the history of the Balkans and a clear sense of artisanal care.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clean and fruity, with distinct notes of ripe plum and a lightly spiced undertone.

Palate

Full and natural, with layers of sweet fruit and a mild warmth.

Finish

Rounded and long, with a final trace of plum.

Specifications

Name: Sljivovica Maraska
Distillery: Maraska
Country: Croatia
Type: Plum Brandy
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Oak, minimum 2 years
EAN no.: 3850158301002
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed neat as a digestif, or with hearty cheese, nuts and dried fruit

Flavour Profile

Ripe plum · Spice · Sweetness · Oak

Did You Know?

The slivovitz tradition in the Zadar area dates back to 1779, when local farmers supplied the town's distilleries with the local marasca fruit – a trading relationship that later gave its name to the entire Maraska house.

A piece of oak that has lain buried in a Jutland bog for thousands of years does not give up its secrets easily. But at the TONOW distillery, they have found a way to unlock them: by ageing apple brandy on exactly this bog oak.

Expert's Description

Tonow Apple & Prehistoric Oak Moseeg Brandy is a Danish Brandy distilled by Vesterhavsmost, bottled at 42%.

As with the house's other brandies, the apples come from Vesterhavsmost's own orchard close to the North Sea, harvested in single varieties in season to preserve each variety's own character. What makes this particular bottling special is the ageing on moseeg – prehistoric oak that has lain buried in Danish bogs for millennia, only resurfacing when farmers or archaeologists come across it during groundwork.

Bog oak is far denser and darker than ordinary oak, and this type of cask gives the spirit a character quite different from the classic French cask types – a deep, earthy tone that ties together with the freshness of the apple.

The result is a brandy that insists on being Danish through both of its central ingredients: the fruit and the wood.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Ripe apples meeting a deep, dark wood tone and a hint of mineral earth.

Palate

Full and earthy, with apple sweetness balanced by a dry, almost smoky wood character.

Finish

Long and deep, with a persistent dark wood tone.

Specifications

Name: Tonow Apple & Prehistoric Oak Moseeg Brandy
Distillery: Tonow
Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Brandy
ABV: 42%
Size: 50 CL
Cask type: Prehistoric bog oak
EAN no.: 5714962000804
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature as a digestif

Flavour Profile

Ripe apple · Dark wood · Earth · Minerality

Did You Know?

Bog oak can be several thousand years old and is preserved only because the oxygen-free environment of a bog prevents the wood from rotting – a natural preservation that only becomes visible to us once the wood is dug back up.

Close to the North Sea, where the light and soil are made for apples, Vesterhavsmost presses fresh must from single-variety apples – and from the same orchard the TONOW distillery makes a brandy that was named Danish Distillery of the Year in 2022.

Expert's Description

Tonow Santana Brandy is a Danish Brandy distilled by Vesterhavsmost, bottled at 42%.

Vesterhavsmost's philosophy is simple: only single-variety, freshly picked apples in season, grown close to the North Sea, where the climate, soil and light are, according to the producer, ideal for fruit growing. 99% of the apple harvest goes into cider must, while a smaller share is passed on to the TONOW distillery, which turns the fruit into brandy.

This Santana edition won a silver medal and stands as a clear example of what a small Danish distillery can achieve when the fruit and the craft come from the same field.

Nothing from the must production is wasted – the leftover pulp is dried and used for bread and muesli, underlining the resource-conscious thinking behind the whole production.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Fresh apples and a light honeyed sweetness, with a hint of flowers.

Palate

Clean and fruity, with an acidic edge that keeps the sweetness in check.

Finish

Short to medium, refreshing and lightly spiced.

Specifications

Name: Tonow Santana Brandy
Distillery: Tonow
Country: Denmark
Type: Danish Brandy
ABV: 42%
Size: 50 CL
EAN no.: 571492000828
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled or at room temperature as a digestif

Flavour Profile

Fresh apple · Honey · Flowers · Acidity

Did You Know?

The TONOW distillery and Vesterhavsmost use almost the entire apple – 99% goes into cider must, while the rest is either distilled into brandy or dried and reused for bread and muesli.

When the French expatriate Jean Buton settled in Bologna in 1820 and set up an experimental distillery, he could hardly have imagined that his triangular bottle would one day become the very symbol of Italian brandy.

Expert's Description

Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Nera is an Italian Brandy distilled from Trebbiano grapes, bottled at 38%.

Buton's experimental distillery grew in 1830 into Distilleria G. Buton & C., described by the house itself as Italy's first steam-powered distillery. The name Vecchia Romagna only arrived in 1939, the same year the distinctive triangular bottle and the Bacchus label were introduced, and both remain the house's trademarks today.

The brandy is distilled from Trebbiano grapes and aged in oak through a double distillation process that gives it a character clearly distinct from both French and Spanish brandy.

Since 1999 the house has been part of the Montenegro spirits group, but production still takes place in the Emilia-Romagna region, where it all began.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Dried fruit, vanilla and toasted oak, with a hint of almond and caramel.

Palate

Soft and harmonious, with classic notes of vanilla, nuts, light smoke and a mild spiced warmth.

Finish

Long, dry and elegant, with a trace of oak and caramelised fruit.

Specifications

Name: Vecchia Romagna Etichetta Nera
Distillery: Vecchia Romagna
Country: Italy
Type: Italian Brandy
ABV: 38%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: Italian oak
EAN no.: 8000060100247
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed at room temperature as a digestif, ideally with dark chocolate or nuts

Flavour Profile

Dried fruit · Vanilla · Toasted oak · Caramel

Did You Know?

The triangular bottle that still identifies Vecchia Romagna today was introduced in 1939 together with the name itself – before that, the brandy did not carry its current name at all.

Some brandies are built around the cask, others are built around the fruit alone. Williams Maraska firmly belongs to the second category – a spirit where the pear's own flavour is left entirely to speak for itself.

Expert's Description

Williams Maraska is a Pear Brandy from Croatia, distilled by Maraska, bottled at 37.5%.

Maraska traces its roots back to 1821 in the port city of Zadar on the Dalmatian coast and is today regarded as one of Croatia's most respected distilleries. The Williams brandy is distilled exclusively from hand-picked Williams pears (the same variety known as Bartlett pears), giving the spirit an exceptionally fresh, refined flavour and a mild, floral aroma.

Unlike many fruit brandies aged in oak casks, the style behind Williams Maraska is built to preserve the pear's clean, unaltered character rather than adding wood and spice.

The fullness of flavour comes best into its own when the spirit is served chilled and neat, supporting its position among the most respected pear brandies on the market.

Tasting Notes

Nose

Clean, ripe pear with a light floral scent.

Palate

Fresh and refined, with distinct pear sweetness and a fine acidity.

Finish

Short and clean, with a final hint of pear skin.

Specifications

Name: Williams Maraska Pear Brandy
Distillery: Maraska
Country: Croatia
Type: Pear Brandy
ABV: 37.5%
Size: 70 CL
EAN no.: 3850158202156
Serving suggestion: Best enjoyed chilled and neat to highlight the pear's freshness

Flavour Profile

Ripe pear · Flowers · Freshness · Light acidity

Did You Know?

The Williams pear that gives this brandy its name is the same variety known in English-speaking countries as the Bartlett pear – one of the world's most widely grown and recognisable pears.