Overall (86)

Delamain XXO fits my preferences for Grande Champagne and higher-aged cognacs right from the start, and this is unmistakably on the drier, more contemplative end of the spectrum. The structure leans into old oak and rancio, with enough leather and walnut to keep me interested, though I wouldn't call it wildly expressive.

Aroma

On the nose I get that classic old rancio note I look for, with a dusty walnut edge and just a bit of tobacco leaf poking through. Not much fruit at all

Taste

Tasting brings out peppery spice over a deep oak core, which I enjoy, there's definite structure here without any sense of sweetness pushing in. Leather is present but never harsh.

Finish

The finish holds steady with more oak and a faint lingering of walnut and tobacco, drying out nicely instead of trailing off with sweetness. It doesn't hang around forever but leaves just enough bitterness to remind you this is serious cognac.

Overall (84)

Naud XO is firmly in the collector's territory for me, with its clear focus on structure and depth rather than quick charm.

Aroma

On the nose, there's plenty of oak and leather, with a whiff of tobacco leaf and just enough cinnamon poking through to keep it lively.

Taste

The palate confirms what the aroma promises: wood-driven and quite dry, but layered. Leather and sandalwood are up front, some cigar box in the mid-palate, and then a touch of rancio that keeps me coming back. No simple sugariness, if anything, it could use a bit more roundness, but I prefer that to feeling cloying.

Finish

Finish is long enough, mostly toast and spice lingering alongside some earthy tobacco.