Armagnac: The Full Story
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Armagnac is perhaps my favorite grape distillate. It is the bigger, bolder, and unrestrained brother of Cognac, albeit firmly in the shadow of the world famous brandy to the north. The most frequent question concerning Armagnac other than "what is it", is “how does Armagnac compare to Cognac.” On the surface it would seem that France’s two most important brandies are very much alike. However, below the surface they actually have more differences than similarities.
Traditional Armagnac is produced by a single distillation method as opposed to the double distilled Cognac (young commercial Armagnac is permitted a second distillation but this is not traditional). Armagnac is comprised of one to four different grape varieties where as Cognac is primarily (98%) made from Ugni Blanc. Traditional Armagnac is commonly vintage dated and bottled at natural strength. Cognac is rarely vintage dated and most commonly reduced in alcohol to 40%. The production of Armagnac is miniscule when compared to Cognac, or virtually any other spirit for that matter. The largest negociant in Armagnac produces less than 2% of the spirit churned out by a large Cognac negociant. Small family owned firms are content to sell 200 cases per year (Courvoisier Cognac sells nearly 3 million cases).
When enjoying Armagnac, allow it to breathe as you would a quality wine. Flavors and aromas of wholes spices, roasted nuts, and dried fruits (dates and prunes are common) are frequently found in Armagnac. Take time to notice the alcohol strength, as this will help you put the perceived alcohol intensity in to perspective.