Armagnac Brandy a Wonderful Drink - Steeped in History

The word brandy is just a generic term for any distilled grape spirit. Indeed if you refer to Cognac or Armagnac as merely "brandy" in front of a Frenchman they a liable to get upset! Little was known about Armagnac outside France until the middle of the 19th century, when it began to gain in popularity. Before this it was simply France's "other brandy". It may be lesser known than Cognac but this spirit has a legitimate claim to be considered the older more venerable product. Cognac production began in the 17th century but the Armagnac region bears historical evidence of distillation dating back at least as far as the 1400s.

Methods of Production

• Made from a blend of several grape varieties which may include Ugni Blanc, Picpoule (Folle Blanche), Colombard, Blanquette and Baco Blanc 22A
• Traditionally Aged in black oak barrels made from wood from the locality.
• Distilled by a continuous distillation method (although since 1972 cognac style pot stills are permitted).
• Batches are often single year vintage.

Areas of Production

• Bas-Armagnac - where the best producers are found
• Armagnac-Ténarèze
• Haut-Armagnac

Bottle Labelling System

Spirits may be a mix of several years although it's fairly common to see single year vintage bottles (these tend to be aged for long periods before coming to market)

VS - three stars are depicted on the bottle. The youngest component must have been aged for at least 2 years.

VSOP - aged in wood for a minimum of 5 years

XO - aged six years or more.

Hors d'âge - the youngest brandy in the blend must be at least 10 years old.

Aging must take place "in the wood" whilst the spirit is stored in barrels. No further aging takes place once bottled.

Character

Continuous distillation preserves aroma-containing elements. The fragrant qualities have been described by many as "biscuity" with a floral topnote like violets. it is drier than Cognac brandy as no sugar is added after distillation.

Health Benefits

When it was noticed that the people of Gascony (where Armagnac is made) benefit from lower levels of heart disease and a longer life span than other parts of France a study was carried out at Bordeaux University. The results seem to indicate that the spirit affects clotting agents in the blood that can otherwise cause heart attacks. Curiously older spirits don't show the best results, most benefit is gained by drinking a small quantity daily aged between 5 and 10 years.

Steeped in Rural Charm

Many of the producers are still rural artisans rather than global companies catering to the high-end market as seen in Cognac production. Brandies are often distilled in shared portable stills driven around the countryside at production time. Much argument takes place as to the ideal components of the perfect spirit and as a result there are many variations and experimentation with regard to grape varieties used and the aging process.