The finest and most rare Cognac in the world.The 80-proof Martell's Exquisite L'Or (which literally translates to gold) is, indeed, exquisite. This cognac is a combination of several hundred barrels drawn from four growths --- Grand Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois, and Borderies --- and matured in oak for decades. The oldest eau de vie in the blend dates back to 1830.Despite the dark burgundy color, this is a surprisingly delicate and light brandy, very refined yet overwhelmingly full of flavor. It's as smooth as candy, the perfect amount of sweetness overlaid with honey, gingerbread, toffee, old wood, and a touch of coffee in both the body and the nose. The finish is a lovely little spiced apple number, and it goes down almost absurdly smoothly.The jewel bottle, whose shape evokes a drop in which the cognac is enclosed and protected, is the work of master craftsmen from the prestigious Manufacture de Cristal de Sevres.