Mouth: very smooth, slightly sweeter than expected. Still a light (now slightly syrupy) fruitiness with more pronounced vanilla. Golden raisins, almonds and honey again. Hints of praline and latte in the end. Medium length, raisiny finish.

Indeed, in the IWSC’s top spirits of 2022, you’ll find a strong selection of whiskies, ranging from modern American bourbon to traditional, aged Scotch. There’s also a strong range of gins, with European entries shining brightly at the awards – you’ll find bottles from Estonia and the UK in the list below. Los servicios de terceros son ajenos al control del editor. Los proveedores pueden modificar en todo momento sus Being a country historically and politically connected with France and Spain the Principality honors its customs and traditions. Therefore, Andorra annually welcomes a huge number of tourists during the holidays and hosts events related to wine tastings, during which both Spanish and French products can be sampled.Mouth: medium body, fairly sweet and oaky. There’s a vague fruity note (maybe orange or peach candy), light hints of Oloroso (dried fruits, raisins, light nuts) and plenty of caramel and cocoa. Some mintiness from the wood as well. The spirits are matured for a minimum of 12 years in Fino sherry casks (ex-Tio Pepe) in a traditional solera system. Recent bottles seem to mention the age on the label but on my bottle this wasn’t the case. Keep in mind that there is a version at 36% ABV and another one at 40% ABV. I guess this is specific to the market you’re in and due to legal requirements or commercial strategy (same thing happens with their entry-level brandy Soberano).

the standard Lepanto Solera Gran Reserva which is finished in sweet Oloroso casks (which held Matusalem sherry) The trademark application has been accepted by the Office (has met the minimum filing requirements) and has not yet been assigned to an examiner. Andorra is not part of the European Union, therefore, the country’s trade policy is not affected by the strict European regulations of the alcohol market. In addition, Andorra today has the lowest VAT rate in Europe, which is fixed for all types of goods (including alcohol) at 4.5%. Andorra has also no excise on alcohol trade, which is actively practiced by the pan-European taxation on alcohol policy. Gonzalez Byass Lepanto uses a double distillation process in copper pot stills, like in the old days. The holandas are matured in wooden casks, botas, that have previously contained sherry. These are not necessarily the same casks that are used in bodegas for the maturation of sherry (which are old, fairly neutral casks). Instead, usually newly made American oak casks are impregnated with sherry for a couple of months until the wood has soaked up the flavours of the wine. When the holandas are matured in these casks, the sherry and oak flavours will slowly be released into the brandy. The older the brandy, the smoother it will become and the more sherry flavours it will take in.

In Jerez they make a difference between three types of spirits based on their strength and volatile aromatics: Lepanto is the only brandy distilled entirely in pot stills and the only one actually distilled in Jerez N ose: quite an elegant profile, fresh with bright fruity notes like apricots, grapes and sour citrus. Hints of old wood and leather. Honey coated nuts and a light touch of vanilla. A refined drink, one of the sherry brandies that comes closest to classic Armagnac and Cognac.

TORRES BRANDY. Juan Torres Casals began to make aged brandy from the best white wines of Penedès (Barcelona). As part of the process, he distilled the wine and aged it in oak barrels. The work of Juan Torres was recognised and his brandies started to become synonymous with quality I find it a little strange that a Málaga-based brandy that wasn’t certified to be a Brandy de Jerez can be “transformed” into a premium sherry brandy with certification. Let’s assume they have greatly upgraded the liquid itself too. Mind that this review was written based on the old version (bottled +/- 2016). All sherry types are used for brandy maturation, but the most common are Oloroso and Pedro Ximénez which have the richest flavours. Often multiple types of casks are used to give the brandy a complex mixture of flavour profiles. Every last Thursday of November at midnight, a celebration of Beaujolais Nouveau is widely celebrated. Top single malt scotch 15 YO and under: Chivas Brothers, Ballantine’s The Glenburgie 12 YO Single Malt Scotch Whisky

Although the distillation is certainly important, most of the typical character comes afterwards. Maturation is what turns a regular brandy into sherry brandy. Holandas have a strength below 70% vol. and contain 200-600 grams of volatile substances per hectolitre of pure alcohol Just like sherry in general, Brandy de Jerez is matured using the traditional system of Soleras and Criaderas. By periodically topping up casks with slightly younger brandy from the previous row, the bottom row will contain a consistent blend of brandies from different ages. Nose: rather oaky, with pencil shavings and peppery notes. Hints of vanilla, orange peels and brown sugar. Underneath is an alcoholic note, making it a bit rougher than I’d like.