Courvoisier Initiale Extra - #3 of Best Cognac Labels

Courvoisier Initiale Extra

Taking quite a while before its perfection is achieved, Courvoisier Initiale Extra is certainly worth that wait. That patience is honed from the Borderies and Grande Champagne grapes that help distill the exquisite eaux-de-vie that help make it a complex, yet balanced offering. Such is the quality of this cognac that three bottles of the eaux-de-vie are required to create the Intiale Extra. Once the aroma takes hold, cinnamon interacts with truffle, dried fruit and old port wine to allow a veritable harmonic convergence to take place. When it reaches the palate the cinnamon remains, with the dried fruit taking the form of a mix of both apricot with some orange peel, with some toffee thrown in. Even though this is delicious at any time of year, it's perhaps best during the Christmas holidays, since fruitcake also breaks through to the palate. By the finish, spices offer a proper sendoff.