Renaissance XO Brandy 500ml

Renaissance XO Brandy is the top grade in the Renaissance brandy range from Vilniaus Degtinė, the Lithuanian spirits producer. The producer says the brandy distillate behind Renaissance comes from France, from the Cognac house Tessendier & Fils. It comes in a 500ml bottle.

Buy Renaissance XO Brandy Online in New Zealand

Vilniaus Degtinė makes Renaissance in three grades, VS, VSOP and XO, alongside a range of flavoured brandies sold as Creation. The grades follow the familiar ladder used in Cognac: VS means Very Special, VSOP means Very Superior Old Pale and XO means Extra Old, with each step built from older spirit than the one below. That puts the XO at the head of the Renaissance line, made for sipping slowly rather than mixing. With French distillate at its core and a Lithuanian producer behind it, it offers the XO style at an everyday price, and the 500ml bottle is a handy size if you want to try it before committing to a full bottle.

It suits brandy drinkers who like an older, rounder style after dinner, and anyone curious about brandy from the Baltic region. Serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass or a small snifter and let it sit for a few minutes before the first sip. Cupping the glass in your hand warms it a little and brings out more aroma. A few drops of water will soften it if you find it strong. Good partners are dark chocolate, roasted almonds or walnuts, dried apricots and a board of aged hard cheese. It can also go into a coffee or a classic brandy cocktail such as a Sidecar. Keep the bottle upright, sealed and away from sunlight.