Gran Duque de Alba Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva (75cl, 40%)

A Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva from Jerez de la Frontera, Spain, aged a minimum of 12 years in sherry-seasoned oak casks. Bodegas Williams & Humbert produces it using the traditional criaderas and soleras aging method. The base spirit is distilled from Palomino and Airén white wines, then matured in oak casks previously used for aging sherry. Some solera barrels were first filled as far back as 1890, and only one-third of the contents of solera-aged barrels is drawn off once per year. The nose shows old leather, pipe tobacco, prune, toasted marshmallow, Danish pastry, balsamic notes, salted butter and caramel cream. The palate is medium-dry and velvety, with dark caramel, bittersweet chocolate, burnt undertones, orange peel and vanilla. The finish is long and warm, with prune, sherry-soaked wood and dried fruit.