Imperial XII is a trademark owned by the Lithuanian company Stumbras. Stumbras is part of MV Group, which is the largest Lithuanian alcohol producer. Stumbras’ production facilities are located in Kaunas, the second largest city in Lithuania. Their selection include Lithuanian vodka, Stumbras vodka, Stumbro Starka and the brandies Imperial XII, as well as Alita and Gloria. The company imports the raw material for the brandy from France. In practice, the company buys large quantities of distillates made from wines produced in different regions of France and then bottles them in Lithuania. Imperial XII brandies are well available throughout the Baltic countries. XII is produced in VS, VSOP and XO age classes, which in practice mean different alcohol strengths. VS is sold at 30%, VSOP and XO at 36% strengths. The age classifications have nothing to do with the maturation period, and there are not very big differences in prices either. 50 cl of XO cost €8.99 in Estonia.

The spirit is a dark mahogany brown in the glass. The aroma is quite mild, slightly ethanolic. Light aromas of raisins and dried fruit appear. The taste is very soft, slightly sweet. The taste has fruity nuances, raisins, dried plums and a bit of woody, oak aromas. The taste is full-bodied, but at the same time thin, somehow watery. As if the 40% brandy had been slightly diluted with water. The bottle itself is quite elegant, but the screw cap broke right at the beginning, started to spin empty, meaning the bottle can no longer be closed tightly. The taste was more aromatic at the beginning than now, when it has been standing half-empty for a couple months.

Imperial XII XO is a very easy-to-sip brandy. It is rare to come across such a smooth brown noble drink. The taste has clearly been softened with sugar, but just moderated. Lithuanian Stumbras Imperial is pretty much the same as other brandys produced in France. With a very competitive price, it’s no wonder it’s found its way into many shopping carts in the grocery stores.

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