Review #: 558
Description: Cobrafire Evil Force
Spirit: Brandy
Background: Following the success of Cobrafire, PM continued their collaboration with Domaine d’Esperance and this time with an aged, cask strength blend. It contains a blend of 4 single casks as followed: 10% cask #1 distilled in 2001, 18% cask #240 distilled in 2012, 36% cask #123 distilled in 2014, and 36% cask #4 distilled in 2015. All were distilled from folle blanche grapes and bottled in 2021 without any additives or water.
Distillery – Domaine d’Esperance
Bottler – PM Spirits
Brand – Cobrafire
Selection – N/A
ABV – 51.7%
Age – 6 Years
Nose – Interesting that even with the oak, this has far more grape and fruit come through, it is far brighter and fruitier but wrapped around some caramel and vanilla, oak is a bit musty but in a very good way. Can almost get ripe apple or sweet peach just creeping in. Has a buttery confectionery smell to it.
Taste – Grape is really rich and sweet, buttery texture, pound cake. Much more of a raw, ripe grape than like a jam.
Finish – The grape sweetness and oak tannins dance back and forth with each other in a really fun way. Much like the unaged, heat is very well contained
Score: 7
Would I buy a bottle? Around $100 there is some competition in the market but I say yes.
Thoughts: This is a fun experience to drink. I find it very interesting that a lot more of the fruit characteristic shines through even with the oak compared to the unaged distillate. However, the oak influence complements it very well and makes for a finish that bounces back and forth but in a harmonious way. $100 can get you a lot in the brandy world, but I don’t think you’d be disappointed with this.