Park XO Nectar Doré is made by the Tessendier family’s distillery in the Cognac region and bottled at 40% ABV under the Park Cognac label. It is a blend of eaux-de-vie, each aged between 10 and 25 years in French oak barrels, and kept in the house’s Paradis cellar. The label carries the Appellation Cognac Contrôlée designation.
 
The producer describes the style as soft in intensity, with a rich aromatic range. Dried fruits and gingerbread lead, with hints of blond tobacco and liquorice behind them. On the producer’s own style scale, it rates four out of five for softness and fruit, and three out of five for strength, floral character and spice. That puts it as a gentle, fruit-led XO rather than a powerful or heavily spiced one.
 
Park Cognac began as a collaboration between Dominique Park, a Scot drawn to the Cognac region, and Jérôme Tessendier, who made bespoke blends and the first “craft” Park cognacs. The Tessendier distillery has now taken over the running of the brand. Jérôme and his brother Lilian, the fourth generation of the family, work as master blender and cellar master.
 
The producer suggests drinking it as a digestif alongside blue cheese, which is worth trying if you want a pairing beyond the usual chocolate or cigar.