Sarajishvili XO Brandy 750ML

Sarajishvili XO Brandy 750ML is a 40% ABV Georgian wine brandy blending 15 aged spirits from one of the world's oldest brandy houses. Awarded a Gold Medal and 92 points ("Exceptional") by the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute, this XO expression draws from a reserve dating back to the distillery's founding in 1884.

Quick Facts: ABV: 40%  |  Origin: Georgia, Caucasus  |  XO (Avg. 14–18 Years, Components Up to 30 Years)  |  Distillery: JSC Sarajishvili

Production & Heritage

David Sarajishvili established his eponymous brandy house in Tbilisi, Georgia, in 1884, making it the first brandy producer in the Caucasus. The XO is assembled from 15 distinct wine brandy distillates, each aged independently in oak, with an average maturation of 14 to 18 years and select components reaching up to 30 years old. The base spirits are distilled from indigenous Georgian grape varietals—Chinuri, Tsitska, Goruli Mtsvane, and Kakhuri Mtsvane—giving the blend a character rooted firmly in Caucasian terroir rather than the French varietals typical of Cognac production.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Deep oak and vanilla arrive first, followed by waves of dark chocolate, toasted almond, and refined leather. A woody spice emerges underneath, lending complexity to an already layered bouquet.

Taste: The entry is velvety and rounded, with cocoa and dried fruit dominating the early palate. Mid-palate, gentle spice and chestnut notes develop, transitioning into a honeyed warmth with a peppery edge. The body is medium-weight, crisp, and dry yet never austere—fruit sweetness and oak tannin stay in careful balance throughout.

Finish: Long and harmonious, with lingering impressions of oak spice, dark chocolate, and soft leather. The warmth fades gradually, leaving a clean, dry conclusion that invites another sip.

How to Drink Sarajishvili XO

This brandy is best appreciated neat in a tulip-shaped snifter at room temperature, where its layered aromatics and long finish can fully develop. A few drops of water may open up the chocolate and dried fruit notes for those who prefer a gentler proof. For cocktails, the XO's spice-and-oak backbone works well in a Sidecar, where its dry character balances the triple sec and citrus; a Vieux Carré, where the chocolate and leather tones complement sweet vermouth and rye; or a Brandy Alexander, where cocoa and vanilla notes amplify the crème de cacao rather than disappear behind it.

Best For

• After-dinner sipping alongside dark chocolate or roasted nuts
• Gifting a spirits enthusiast curious about brandy beyond Cognac
• Introducing guests to the Georgian brandy tradition at a tasting
• Building cocktails that call for a dry, oak-forward aged brandy

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Sarajishvili XO taste like? Sarajishvili XO delivers a velvety palate of cocoa, dried fruit, and gentle pepper over a medium-bodied, dry-yet-fruity frame. Oak spice and dark chocolate carry through a long, harmonious finish.

How does Sarajishvili XO compare to Ararat 10 Year Armenian brandy? Both are Caucasian wine brandies, but Sarajishvili XO uses Georgian grape varietals (Chinuri, Tsitska, Goruli Mtsvane, Kakhuri Mtsvane) and blends 15 spirits with components up to 30 years old, resulting in a drier, more oak-driven profile. Ararat 10 Year tends toward a rounder, sweeter fruit character at a younger average age.

Is Sarajishvili XO good for sipping neat? Yes—its average 14-to-18-year maturity and 40% ABV make it smooth and complex enough to drink without any mixer or dilution. The layered aromatics reward slow, attentive sipping.

Where is Sarajishvili XO made? Sarajishvili XO is produced by JSC Sarajishvili in Tbilisi, Georgia, in the Caucasus region. The distillery was founded in 1884 by David Sarajishvili and remains one of the oldest brandy producers in the region.

What foods pair well with Sarajishvili XO? Dark chocolate truffles mirror the brandy's cocoa undertones. Aged hard cheeses like Gruyère complement its oak and nutty notes. Roasted almonds echo the almond nuance in the mid-palate. Dried figs and apricots bridge the dried-fruit character, while a charcuterie board with cured meats highlights the leather and pepper spice.

What sizes does Sarajishvili XO come in? The standard bottle is 750ml, which is the most widely available format for this expression.

Is Sarajishvili XO worth the price? Sarajishvili XO positions as a premium brandy, and its blend of 15 spirits with components up to 30 years old, combined with a 92-point Gold Medal from the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute, places it among the stronger values in aged XO-level brandy.

Why Sarajishvili XO?

What separates this brandy from the broader XO category is its raw material: four indigenous Georgian grape varietals that simply do not appear in French or Spanish brandy production. The 15-spirit blend, drawn from reserves that trace back to the distillery's 1884 founding, produces a complexity difficult to replicate through a simpler assemblage. A Gold Medal and 92 points from the Chicago Beverage Testing Institute, along with silver medals from both the International Wine & Spirit Competition and TEXSOM International Wine Awards, confirm that the quality registers with professional panels, not just regional loyalty. For drinkers ready to explore aged brandy outside the Cognac appellation, Sarajishvili XO makes a credible and distinctive case for Georgia's place in the conversation.