Brandy Review: Alfonso I, Tres Cepas, Captain Apple Jack

Three new mystery brandies were sampled recently.  In order of price they were:

Alfonso I - A brandy de jerez, this clocked in around ten bucks.  A bit harsh around the edges but mellowed a bit in ice.  The flavor is consistent with Jerez brandies, and taste wise not bad.  Buy.

Tres Cepas - Around fifteen bucks, also a brandy de Jerez.  Less bite than the Alfonso.  Also a buy, but only nominally so.

Captain Apple Jack - This is a bottled in bond apple brandy.  The same stuff as Laird's apple brandy, but marketed for Virginia.  The label features an androgynous looking pirate.  I call it "Pat".  On closeout sale for 20 bucks.  Harsh around the edges, not as strong of an apple flavor as I recall from the Laird's.  Good for mixing but a bit too pricey for a mixing brandy, even at closeout prices.  Pass.

So there you go.

Gaze Upon Me

Old Fashioned but still in style. Hey that sounds like me.



Head of the bourbon family. Respect!



The two towers

Bottled in Bond

My liquor store carries two bourbons that are bottled in bond: Old Grand-Dad and Old Fitzgerald. They are both solid whiskeys. Smooth, but not mellow. At 50% alcohol, you wouldn't expect these to be "mellow" whiskeys. OGD has a very strong flavor with hits of an almost almond nut flavor. Old Fitzy also has a strong flavor, though I am at a lack of words to describe it in comparison to OGD or other whiskeys.

These also have some of the most interesting labels of any whiskey. OGD has a nuclear orange color with bright gold lettering proclaiming "Bonded". A seal of quality to octogenarians perhaps? An amusing anachronistic label, equaled by its counterpart Old Fitzy. Ole' Fitzy has so much verbiage on the label it is mesmerizing. It has a seal proclaiming "Old fashioned but still in style" and on the back "Your key to hospitality". It also lists a brief history of the brand and tasting notes. I can stare at that thing and get lost on the labeling, which apparently hasn't changed since the Kennedy administration.

I should have pictures up for you shortly.

So which one is better? Hard to say, really. They are similar in character, with OGD having a stronger aftertaste and that nut flavor. I'll do a head to head comparison and give the results. Either way, they are both solid value whiskeys. Smooth and hangover free, fascinating labeling, and definitely a conversation piece for guests having a pour for the first time.