Maker: Tessendier et fils, Cognac, Charentes, France
E= Extra
B= Borderies
Place of origin
E: Grande Champagne, Cognac, France
B: Borderies, Cognac, France
Age category
E:XO
B: NAS
ABV: 40%
Price
E: $100 (K & L)
B: $50 (Binny’s)
Appearance
E: Dark copper.
B: Medium copper.
Nose
E: Oak, leather, apricot, dates.
B: Oak, orange oil, cherry cola.
Palate
E: Sweet, rounded, French oak, vanilla, black currant jam, alcohol, praline.
B: Lighter, brighter. Orange thyme, cedar, alcohol, roasted almonds.
Finish
E: Nutty. Oak, alcohol, brown sugar
B: Potpourri, alcohol.
Parting words: This is the final installment of my three-part series on the Park Cognacs that came in the little boxed set of six 50 ml bottles I bought at Vine & Table in Carmel (CAR-muhl), Indiana a few months ago. These two are the best of the six.
The Extra is a good example of what a Grande Champagne XO should taste like. It’s complex, but none of the flavors or aromas are outside of the usual file-cabinet of Cognac descriptors. The Borderies was pretty different compared to French brandies I’ve tasted before, more perfume and citrus. That’s not to say that B was better than E, it was just different.
I enjoyed the Borderies as a change of pace, but I would probably not want to drink it all the time. The best comparison I can think of is between bourbon and rye. I enjoy rye as a dry change of pace, but the sweetness of bourbon is what keeps me coming back. Both Park Extra and Borderies are recommended.
Sipology 