Maker: Chateau de Cognac, Cognac, Charente, France. (Bacardi)
Region: Blend.
Age category: VSOP (at least 4 y/o).
ABV: 40%
Michigan state minimum: $51
Appearance: Brownish copper with long, elegant legs.
Nose: Alcohol, felt, old oak, prune juice.
Palate: Full bodied. Juicy and a little chewy with a bold burn throughout.
Finish: Raisins, oak, heat. Long.
Parting words: Cognac d’Ussé is best known for being developed (endorsed?) by Jay-Z. Don’t confuse it with other celebrity spirits like Conjure Cognac or Ciroc vodka. Those are garbage, this is not. D’Usse is a product of Chateau de Cognac, appropriately located in a castle in central Cognac. Baron Otard is Chateau de Cognac’s primary product line with all the usual suspects. Unlike those, D’Usse (this and the $200+ XO) is made by blending brandies from all over CdC’s estates. It was intended to rope in a young, hip audience. How young and/or hip I am is up for debate, but I have been roped in.
There are no flavors or aromas here that are too far outside the norm for Cognacs, but they’re all amped up while remaining balanced. As a newcomer to good Cognac, I really enjoyed it. The price is in the same ballpark as other VSOPs from Cognac houses of comparable size. Not that it matters but the bottle is really cool looking too. D’Usse VSOP is recommended.
Sipology 