This dessert-worthy pour opens with concentrated, sweet caramel on nose and palate. The first sips double down with palate-coating crème brûlée, edged with espresso and baking spice, leading to a long, gentle, custard fade.

— Kara Newman

Look for a dark amber hue and sweet vanilla bean aromas plus hints of cocoa and fig. The soft palate opens with a blast of baking spice, leading into a softer, mocha-tinged midpalate refreshed by lemon peel astringency on the exit. Sip or mix.

— Kara Newman

Pale & Dry is bright amber in color, with hints of gold. On the palate it has floral and spice aromas giving way to woody herbs, raisins and other dried fruits, vanilla and a hint of licorice.

— Anthony Dias Blue

Brilliant gold/harvest yellow color; flawless purity. Crisp acidity that maintains the aromatic integrity perfectly; ripe pear notes. Entry is luscious, ripe, yet refreshingly tart; midpalate is medium-long, juicy, pear flavor and cognac in harmony. Remarkably elegant.

— Anthony Dias Blue

Yellow plums, peach blossom and golden raisin are all elegant aromas that waft from the glass. Robust flavors are reminiscent of baked oatmeal with generous sweet spice. A pleasantly tannic peach skin flavor lingers on the finish.

From the only house were the Cognacs start at XO, this blend of 20- to 25-year-old brandies is mellow and honeyed. The white flower, honey and pear fragrance leads the nose. A flurry of spice—cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger—enlivens the palate, leading to toasty brioche and vanilla, plus hints of pear and walnut. The finish is long, palate-coating and silky.

— Kara Newman

From the only house were the Cognacs start at XO, this blend of 20- to 25-year-old brandies is mellow and honeyed. The white flower, honey and pear fragrance leads the nose. A flurry of spice—cinnamon, nutmeg and ginger—enlivens the palate, leading to toasty brioche and vanilla, plus hints of pear and walnut. The finish is long, palate-coating and silky. Grande Champagne region.

— Kara Newman

Deep purple-brown in the glass, the aroma mixes jammy cherry and raspberry with eucalyptus. The palate walks the line between lightly sweet and lightly bitter, mingling herbaceous root beer notes with faint but refreshing mint and a mildly bitter edge. Recommended as a digestif or for cocktail mixing (i.e. Negroni-style drinks).

— Kara Newman

This Cognac-based liqueur incorporates 20 pounds of pears in each 750-ml bottle, yielding a rich golden hue and bold fresh-pear scent. As a digestif-worthy sipper, look for a balanced honey and vanilla flavor profile, with a suggestion of pear on the finish. Ideal for cocktails, baking or sipping straight.

— Kara Newman

Made with a blend of brandies aged 30–35 years, this shows dark amber in the glass yet is remarkably soft, balanced and easy to enjoy. The bouquet entices, with scents of caramel, vanilla and orange peel that are mirrored on the palate along with a slight saline twang that reads as salted caramel, braced by clove and cinnamon.

— Kara Newman