Ysabel Regina Brandy 750ML is a 42% ABV blended brandy that merges French Cognac with Spanish Solera Gran Reserva brandy, finished in century-old Pedro Ximénez sherry casks. Awarded 94 points by tastings.com in 2015 and recognized at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition, this hybrid expression occupies rare ground between two of Europe's greatest brandy traditions. Quick Facts: ABV: 42% (84 proof) | Origin: Jerez, Andalusia, Spain & Cognac, France | Assemblage of 4-Year Cognac & 10-Year Solera Gran Reserva | Producer: Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola Production & Heritage Ysabel Regina is produced by Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola, a family operation based in Jerez de la Frontera that has been making brandy and sherry for nearly nine generations. The brandy is an assemblage — a deliberate blend of Petit and Grande Champagne VSOP Cognac aged a minimum of four years with a Spanish Brandy de Jerez Solera Gran Reserva aged ten years. The Cognac component is distilled from Ugni Blanc grapes, while the Spanish brandy draws from Airén grapes grown in Jerez. After blending, the spirit rests for approximately twelve months in 100-year-old barrels that previously held Pedro Ximénez sherry, imparting a distinctive sweetness and layered complexity that sets it apart from single-origin brandies. Tasting Notes Aroma: Cream caramel and burnt sugar lead, followed by butter, soft smokiness, and ripe stone fruit. Deeper breaths reveal frosted orange cake, peach, and warm baking spice. Taste: The entry is glycerous and sweet, with apricot marmalade and boiled sweets giving way to darker mid-palate notes of bitter burnt toffee, charred raisins, and candied orange. The PX cask influence emerges fully at the peak — dark chocolate, coffee, and a rum-like richness underpinned by vanilla and nutmeg. Finish: Medium-long with a tangy, bittersweet edge. Lingering notes of burnt sugar, white chocolate, and dried fruit fade slowly alongside gentle warmth from the 42% ABV. How to Drink Ysabel Regina The PX cask influence and layered complexity reward neat sipping at room temperature; a few drops of water can open the aromatic range further without diluting the rich texture. For cocktails, this brandy's dual French-Spanish character makes it unusually versatile. A Sidecar benefits from the dark fruit sweetness that replaces the need for excessive triple sec. In a Brandy Old Fashioned, the burnt toffee and chocolate notes stand up to bitters without being overwhelmed. A Stinger pairs well here because the spirit's inherent sweetness balances the crème de menthe with less sugar-forward heaviness than typical VS Cognacs. Best For Gifting a Cognac drinker something outside their usual rotation After-dinner sipping alongside dessert or dark chocolate Exploring the intersection of Spanish and French brandy traditions Building a home bar with distinctive, conversation-starting spirits Frequently Asked Questions What does Ysabel Regina taste like? Ysabel Regina delivers a sweet, layered profile dominated by burnt toffee, dark chocolate, coffee, apricot marmalade, and charred raisins. The Pedro Ximénez cask finishing adds a distinct sherry-influenced richness with vanilla and warm baking spice throughout. How does Ysabel Regina compare to Torres 10? Torres 10 is a purely Spanish Brandy de Jerez aged in American oak, producing a lighter, more fruit-forward profile at 40% ABV. Ysabel Regina blends French Cognac into the equation and finishes in century-old PX sherry casks, resulting in a richer, more dessert-leaning character at a slightly higher 42% ABV. Is Ysabel Regina good for sipping neat? Yes — the complex assemblage of aged Cognac and Solera Gran Reserva brandy, combined with the PX cask finishing, creates enough depth and texture to reward slow, neat exploration without requiring ice or mixers. Where is Ysabel Regina made? Ysabel Regina is produced by Bodegas Ximénez-Spínola in Jerez de la Frontera, Andalusia, Spain. The Cognac component originates from the Petit and Grande Champagne sub-regions of Cognac, France, before being blended and finished in Jerez. What foods pair well with Ysabel Regina? Dark chocolate truffles complement the cocoa and coffee notes. Aged Manchego cheese echoes the Spanish heritage and matches the nutty sweetness. Crème brûlée mirrors the burnt sugar and caramel character. Fig and almond tart highlights the dried fruit notes from the PX casks. Roasted duck with a fruit reduction bridges the spirit's savory smoke and stone fruit aromas. What sizes does Ysabel Regina come in? The standard widely available size is the 750ml bottle. Is Ysabel Regina worth the price? Ysabel Regina positions as a premium brandy that punches above many expressions in its price tier, combining aged Cognac, decade-old Solera brandy, and rare PX cask finishing — a production process that justifies its standing among serious sipping brandies without reaching ultra-premium pricing. Why Ysabel Regina? Very few brandies on the market blend French Cognac from the prestigious Champagne crus with a Spanish Solera Gran Reserva aged a full decade, making Ysabel Regina a genuine rarity in the category. The finishing stage in 100-year-old Pedro Ximénez sherry barrels — sourced directly from the Ximénez-Spínola family's own cellars — adds a layer of dark, dessert-like sweetness that neither a standard Cognac nor a typical Brandy de Jerez can replicate on its own. The 94-point rating from tastings.com and recognition at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm this is more than a novelty blend. For drinkers who appreciate both traditions and want a single bottle that bridges them, Ysabel Regina occupies a space essentially its own.
