CR&F marks 130 years with the launch of the XO Cask Strength brandy

CR&F has presented a new special edition to mark its 130-year history: the XO Cask Strength brandy, a limited edition of only 365 numbered bottles, from a single cask and bottled directly from the cask. This launch pays homage to know-how, mastery, and time, values that have defined the brand’s identity since 1895.

Discovered by the house’s oenologists during one of their selection journeys, this brandy had been reserved since 1980, awaiting the right moment to be revealed. Originating from the Vinho Verde region, it benefits from a terroir marked by a fresh, humid Atlantic climate and granitic soils, factors that contribute to delicate aromatic profiles, high acidity, and great complexity.

The CR&F XO Cask Strength presents itself as a pure and unaltered brandy, bottled in its most authentic expression. Visually, it reveals an amber-gold color with greenish reflections. On the nose, notes of sea breeze, bitter almond, and saline nuances stand out, wrapped in hints of iodine and salted caramel. On the palate, it is iodized and intense, with well-marked salted caramel, a long finish, and a harmonious integration of the wood.

The edition is also distinguished by its luxury presentation. The crystal bottle is housed in a wooden box, lined with sustainable leather, integrating historical elements of the brand such as the seal, the cord, the signature of the three founders, and the old CR&F logo, where the dragon—a symbol of strength and tradition—stands out. Each box also includes a fragment of the very cask where the brandy aged, transformed into a numbered piece, reinforcing the exclusive character of the edition.

This launch is part of the celebrations for CR&F’s 130th anniversary, marked under the motto “Made with time. Lived with memories.”, underlining the brand’s connection to history and the Portuguese families that helped build its legacy. Currently integrated into the João Portugal Ramos Group, CR&F continues to establish itself as a reference in the brandy universe, with a prestigious position in the national and international market.