Without a doubt, if you are truly interested in savouring a great cognac but do not have unlimited resources, an XO is the best choice. I have tasted several brands of XO in addition to a few upper end cognacs including Remy Extra Perfection and Louis XIII. The Remy XO Special (now Excellence) is my favourite of the XO cognacs I have tasted to date.

The Remy XO Excellence starts with a light floral nose of jasmine and the sweeter scents of violet. From there, it takes on a vanilla nutmeg (or cinnamon) quality, followed by underlying layers of candied apple, pear and fig. The finish lasts 10-15 minutes and is accompanied by a sweet velvety texture.

In comparison to Hennessy's XO, the Remy comes across as less harsh and earthy, and it seems to be bolder than Courvoisier's XO, though it has been a while since I last tasted it. These other cognacs are of the same quality and are equally splendid, but they all have a different subtle character. Pick the Remy if you prefer a smoother, fruitier cognac.

Worth every penny, the Remy XO Excellence (or Special) will provide you with approximately $135 of pleasure. It is equal in quality to the other brands of XO, but it is #1 on my list. Different people will prefer different XO brands, but I am a wine connoisseur who loves Sauternes, so I prefer the smoother, fruitier and caramel-like cognacs while my friend, who drinks Scotch regularly, prefers Hennessy.

Take your time, appreciate what goes into creating these drinks, and drink responsibly.

Recommended: Yes