Cognac Comandon

This is another from last year's K&L Exclusive series.  They originally had it priced at $120 bur recently lowered it to $100.  Given this big price cut, I thought it would be a good time to review it (though chump that I am, I bought it at the original price).

This Cognac Comandon is that most unusual thing, a cask strength, single barrel Cognac. A Borderies Region Cognac, this Comandon is 18 years old.

Cognac Comandon XO 18 years old, Barrel #524, K&L Exclusive, 45% abv ($100)

This has a beautiful nose with apples and spice and maybe a touch of mustiness like a damp, fall day.  The palate comes on candy sweet, then picks up a bit of spice and ends on a drier, spicier note.  The fruit on the nose isn't apparent on the palate.  The sweetness on the palate is sort of a generic sweetness more than a fruit sweetness.  The finish is spicy with just a slight bitterness.

This Cognac had a promising nose, but I felt the palate didn't follow through and was overly sweet.  I prefer K&L's Famille Esteve Coup de Coeur, which is $10 less than even the reduced price of the Comandon.