BEST BUDGET BRANDY UNDER $20 - E&J XO Review [Bonus: Taste of Purple Snifter Review]

[@azmendozafamily]

Lay your snifter on its side, pour until it touches the lip, then retun to vertical, hold it in your palm, with the stem between your fingers to warm it up and open up the essences. E&J XO: On rhe nose I get dried apricots and prunes. On the pallete, I get burnt caramel, raisins, wooden notes. At 80 proof, its a very mild drink, perfect for after dinner.

[@CorkandJava]

Cheers!

[@chu88y1]

Thanks. I understand Brandy can have added sugar, thickener and coloring all to mimic aging. Is there any mention of "no additives?"

[@CorkandJava]

Not sure, but if they did add stuff, it still tastes good

[@kevinfestner6126]

It's rough. I get caramel, ok honey, it goes down rough. But for the 13 bucks I paid, heck, it's not bad. My plan was and is for cooking Various Al Copeland Louisiana recipes requiring a decent brandy. It's drinkable. Aftertaste after the burn is definitely caramel. It lacks complexity. It is certainly a buy. It's a California brandy. Very few are made of this quality. Christian Bros and Gallo comes to mind. If you want a California brandy, buy this one. Now a 60 buck French VSOP.... For a comparison. A nutty nose, little caramel hints.. Not rough. Not smooth, either. A very pleasant VSOP. In comparison, the Gallo XO at 13 bucks, ain't bad.

[@CorkandJava]

@@kevinfestner6126 spot on

[@azmendozafamily]

Drinking whiskey out of a balloon snifter is perfectly acceptable, though I would not go with a snifter that big for whiskey, brandy, or Cognac. Typically an 8oz snifter is good for sampling your drink. If you lay It on its side when pouring your spirit into the glass, and you fill it till it gets right to the rim while on its side, then you'll have a great 1.5oz pour. it's fun to swirl it, nose it, and sip your drink out of it. The Glencairn really focuses the aromas from your whiskey, but the balloon snifter allows your whiskey to breathe and when you swirl it, there's more surface area coated by the spirit, which volatilizes the nose quite beautifully. The glass is then about the size of a baseball or tennis ball and is easier to hold cupped in your hand, or by the foot. When ordering a whiskey at a bar, I'll ask if they can serve it neat in a snifter. Typically it will be served in a rocks glass which is really not the best way to get a good take on the nose. Cheers!

[@CorkandJava]

I just got some sweet new snifters that are a little bigger and fatter than the standard glencairn. I love it

[@braydenyonts3758]

True! I'd say that any spirit enjoyed neat might benefit from a snifter, really. Never had a gin via snifter but I'm sure it'd be dramatic - especially a barrel aged gin.

[@ronaldtheriot]

I enjoy E&J XO.

[@CorkandJava]

Us too. Cheers!

[@chuckchizzle]

My girl and I drank this over the weekend

[@CorkandJava]

Cheers!

[@sofiaalyona]

I think I’ll like it 👍

[@CorkandJava]

Cheers!

[@azmendozafamily]

Did you have a taste of the E&J XO? for a few dollars more, I recommend St. Remy XO. made by the same distillers as Remy-Martin, but it's not Cognac, so it's a lot lower in price. The 750ml bottle is $25 here in AZ.

[@chu88y1]

Asbach seems like a serious Brandy

[@GrownFolkTime]

Laird's Apple Brandy 7yr Old

[@CorkandJava]

Yumm! Cheers!

[@huskywashington9693]

This is my favorite Brandy! I just wanted to say these two people are already lit !!! I think they like it too!!!!😂 E&J BRADY BUY IT!!!!!!

[@CorkandJava]

Cheers!