Review #: 386
Description: Jean-Luc Pasquet Lot 68-72 Aficionados x Fine Drams
Spirit: Cognac
Background: The last of the 2022 yak herd from Aficionados, this cask comes from the village of Asnières in the Fins Bois region. It’s fairly common in French brandies for casks to get blended while aging to keep them topped up, hence the range of 68-72 in the lot designation. Still, there is some solid age on this spirit and also the highest proof of the 3. Let’s see if it translates to taste.
Distillery – Asnières
Bottler – Jean-Luc Pasquet
Brand – Jean-Luc Pasquet
Selection – Aficionados/FineDrams
ABV – 57.1%
Age – 50 Years
Nose – Dark, earthier, wet moss, damp soil, raisins, cherry, heavy oak but not drying
Taste – Thick, rich, very oily and buttery. Coats your whole mouth. A light caramel apple sweetness, but mostly kept on the rich side with oak and earth.
Finish – A little pop of grape but still strong oak, dark chocolate, toasted marshmallow, tobacco. The oak is very heavy, but it’s not bitter and only slightly dry. It lingers on the tongue forever but isn’t tacky. Just makes me want more.
Score: 9
Would I buy a bottle? Yes
Thoughts: Holy cow, this stuff is amazing. I love that the three bottles all are pretty different in characteristics despite the similarities in stats. If you love more fruit forward with a strong oak background, go the 75. If you want a heavy, rich, oak driven spirit that isn’t over oaked, tannic, and super drying, this is probably the best bottle you can get. I know I’ll be adding one to my next FD order.