Braastad XO Fine Champagne

What We Know

• Average age between 15-20 years
• Fine Champagne
  • At least 50% Grande Champagne
• Ugni Blanc
• Distilled on the lees
• Limousin oak
• 40% ABV
• IWSC Silver Medal for 2013and 2014, International Spirits Challenge Silver Medal 2018

Nose

Caramel, vanilla bean, allspice, flowers, star anise, cedar, tobacco, leather, hazelnut, forest floor, baked pear, orange zest, stewed peach, plum, dried fig

Palate

Vanilla, butterscotch, black pepper, cinnamon, dried coconut, brioche, licorice, sandalwood, bitter chocolate, leather, toasted walnut, candied apple, burnt orange, dark cherries, prune

Finish

Vanilla and spice up front followed by a strong oak presence and slight rancio

Overall Thoughts

A deep caramel and tawny color with some reflections of burnt orange. Quite a bit to explore here. The nose is dominated by savory and spicy notes. There’s quite a bit of vanilla bean and caramel, but quickly is embraced by allspice, tobacco leaves, and leather. A bit of fruit is evident with baked pears and plum. The palate isn’t too far away with similar flavors. Vanilla comes back around in a more rounded essence and brings some bitter chocolate and sandalwood along for the ride. Toasted walnuts pairs nicely with brioche while dark cherries mingle with black pepper and cinnamon. The finish is medium long and really drives home some oaky tannins.

Wood, spice, and everything nice! Braastad XO Fine Champagne is a great example of how a smaller house can swing just as hard as the big guys. This XO is everything you’d expect it to be. With an average age of 15-20 years, this has had enough time to really develop into a flavorful Cognac. Wood spices and rich vanilla is what this expression is all about. I briefly got a floral element on the nose, but if you’re not really looking for it don’t expect to find it. That goes for fruit, too. It’s definitely there with some darker plum/prune/cherry notes, but they certainly are not the focus.

Rancio is starting to show nicely with what I can only describe as a forest floor. Think if you were walking along a wooded path right after a rain storm. That wet wood and moss aroma is what came to mind for me. I did end up adding a healthy splash of water to my glass in hopes that I would unlock some more flavors. It subdued the spices and brought up a little more fruit, but honestly, I think it did it a disservice and I wouldn’t recommend the water.

Finally, the price tag on this bottle is absolutely worth mentioning as it comes in under $100. For an XO of this quality that’s really hard to come by. That alone should make you want to hunt down a bottle for your home bar. If you’re a fan of Rémy Martin XO or maybe even Martell XO, I highly suggest you give this a try. Better yet, give a pour to your whiskey drinking friend that swears they don’t like Cognac. Sit back and watch the wonderful look of surprise on their face.