Remy Martin V Brandy Review | The Summer Spirit You Need | The Liquor Connoisseur
- connoisseurofliquo
- Apr 26
- 2 min read
Updated: 6 days ago
Rémy Martin V is a clear Cognac — no aging, no color, no oak influence. Crystal and Roger evaluate this unusual expression from one of the world's most prestigious Cognac houses and discover a spirit that forces you to reconsider what brandy can be.
Bottle Specs
Spirit: Rémy Martin V (Vsop Bypass — unaged Cognac)
House: Rémy Martin, Cognac, France
Category: Unaged Cognac — a genuine curiosity in the category
Production: Fine Champagne grapes, distilled but not aged in oak
ABV: 40%
Price: ~$30–35
Season: Positioned as a summer spirit — mixable and approachable
What Unaged Cognac Actually Is
Cognac's identity is inseparable from oak aging — at minimum VSOP requires four years in cask. Rémy Martin V removes that requirement entirely: this is freshly distilled grape spirit, processed through cold filtration to achieve clarity without cask time. What you taste is pure grape and distillation character with no wood overlay. It's controversial in Cognac circles and fascinating as a spirits experiment.
Tasting Notes — Nose, Palate, Finish
Nose: Surprisingly expressive — fresh grape, white flower, citrus, and a clean spirit note that's assertive without being harsh. This smells like a high-quality eau-de-vie or grappa more than Cognac. Palate: Light, fruity, and clean with the Fine Champagne grape character showing clearly without oak influence. There's a fresh fruit sweetness and a gentle vinous quality that's enjoyable and distinctive. Finish: Short to medium, clean, with fresh fruit and spirit warmth.
How to Use It
Crystal and Roger explore Rémy V as a cocktail ingredient — its clean, unaged character makes it an interesting substitute for vodka or white rum in cocktails that call for fruit-forward, light-bodied spirits. A Rémy V Gimlet or a Rémy V Collins reveals what unaged grape spirit adds to cocktail frameworks.
🥃 Crystal & Roger's LC Recommendations
For summer cocktails: Rémy V is the white spirit you didn't know you needed. It works in any vodka or white rum cocktail and adds a French grape elegance.
To understand the grape: Tasting Rémy V alongside a standard VSOP Cognac shows you exactly what oak aging contributes to brandy. The comparison is illuminating.
For gin drinkers curious about brandy: Rémy V's lightness and fruit character bridges gin and brandy in a way that standard Cognac doesn't. A genuine entry point.
LC Verdict
A genuinely curious expression that serves its purpose beautifully — showing the grape character that oak aging typically transforms rather than reveals. Rémy Martin V earns its place as a summer bottle.
Drink To Remember, Not To Forget. 🥃
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