St Agnes Distillery VSOP Brandy
With aged brandy, as time in the cask increases, we expect less vibrant fruit and more oak. For many, a perfect brandy is one in which the oak and fruit are balanced. However, fruitier brandies are generally preferred for cocktails, while very oaky, old brandies are preferred by some for sipping. As a small step up from the VS in price, St Agnes VSOP is a big step up in age, representing a minimum of five years in the cask rather than the VS’s minimum of two. The result is a less bombastic nose with better integration and significantly more nutty oak, while maintaining some lovely fruit sweetness and orange oil richness. At 37%, it’s still light on the palate but offers significantly more grip through the finish. All in all, a more refined, although less fruit-forward product, better perhaps for stirred-down cocktails where oak presence is essential.
