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Torres 20 Hors d'Age brandy review
Published: September 30, 2020 at 11:06 AM
5.0
A star rating of 5.0 out of 5.
Brandy is a spirit distilled from fruit or vegetables, most often grapes. Looking to buy a bottle for a gift or to drink at home? Read our review of this Spanish brandy by Torres.
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Torres 20 Hors d'Age brandy (40% ABV) summary
The Torres 20 has thrice been named the best brandy in the world, and with good reason. This Catalan delight is decadent enough to be a dessert and, given the company’s unparalleled eco-friendly policies, you can feel good about yourself as you enjoy this caramel-laced delight bursting with orchard fruits.
Read our full round-up of the best brandy
Where is Torres brandy made?
Torres brandy hails from the Catalan winemaking region of Penedés. In the years since the foundation of the Familia Torres company, the distillery has garnered worldwide acclaim, with a string of prestigious awards recognising the quality of the brandy and the company’s sustainability practices.
Distillation began in 1928 under Juan Torres Casals, when the company began maturing brandy in oak barrels, distilling it from the finest white wines of Penedés.
Penedés is perhaps best known for the cava it produces, rather than its brandy. Indeed, the same grapes used for cava – macabeo, xarel-lo and parellada – are used in Torres brandy, with the addition of ugni blanc, the grape used to make cognac.
Matías Llobet was appointed master distiller in 1985, and just over a decade later, Torres 20 was named the best brandy in the world at the International Wine & Spirit Competition, collecting the award again in 2006 and 2019.
What else should we know about this brandy maker?
Torres doesn’t just sweep up awards for its booze. In 2010 and 2015, the firm was named Green Company of the Year by The Drinks Business magazine. Tackling climate change has become a priority for Torres. In 2008, the Torres & Earth program was launched, with the aim of the company reducing its CO2 emissions per bottle by 30 per cent from 2008-2020, a target that was reached in 2019. This reduction in carbon emissions is achieved through a variety of means, such as using renewable energy, sustainable transport and lighter bottles. Each year, Torres invests 11 per cent of its profits into the fight against climate change.
How does Torres 20 Hors d'Age brandy taste?
One sip of Torres 20 is enough to understand why it's one the world’s most awarded brandies. The nose is thick with caramel and warm spices, with cinnamon dominating ahead of some lingering orchard fruits. On the palate, the brandy is paradoxically syrupy and juicy, thick with chocolate and caramel, but dissolving into a candied orange and pear combination that's studded with cloves and cinnamon. The finish is sweet, with orange carried through along with cloves and leather.
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This review was last updated in September 2020. If you have any questions, suggestions for future reviews or spot anything that has changed in price or availability please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk.
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