I’m still picking up strength when it comes to my tasting nerve, which is why you’re seeing less of these large sessions and more individual reviews these days. Slowly this will change, although the holidays are coming up and that’s usually not a very productive period.
Anyway, I though it was time for an armagnac session with six bottlings. This includes the latest from Journal des Kirsch, Liquid Treasures and Grape of the Art, but also a couple of slightly older releases.
Bas-Armagnac Garreau 36 yo 1988 (45,9%, Liquid Treasures for Korea Brandy Society 2025)
Nose: nice raisins and juicy currants, along with some minty freshness and furniture polish. Hints of cinnamon pastry in the background, as well as light tobacco and peaches. A beautiful rancio side too, bringing this very close to a well-aged cognac.
Mouth: now the oak is more prominent, bringing more tobacco to the table, as well as leafy notes, walnuts and some heavily infused herbal tea. Still some dried fruit and hints of currants underneath, as well as a vinous side, camphor and menthol. The piney oak and cedar wood make it a rather rustic armagnac.
Finish: quite long, with more herbal tea, walnuts and earthy tobacco.
Quite an impressive nose but a tad too vinous and woody on the palate.
Domaine de Danis 1986 (46%, OB 2022, cask #31)
Nose: fruity and elegant. Lots of stewed pears and peaches, with some mango and whitecurrant, as well as lime. There’s a fine oaky side – vanilla, whiffs of cigar boxes, along with some eucalyptus.
Mouth: a refined, almost feminine and fruity profile, much like cognac. More apricots and sour currants, raisins and even hints of pink grapefruit. Then a light mineral and salty edge, and polished oak that is well dosed. In the end some tobacco and herbal notes come out.
Finish: on the shorter side, but fresh, with light rancio, mint leaves and citrus.
Much closer to cognac this time. Very refined, with a bright and lightly tropical fruitiness that makes me forget about the lower ABV. Highly enjoyable. Score: 89/100
Armagnac Darroze – Domaine de Busquet 1999 (49,5%, Journal des Kirsch 2015 btl.)
Nose: quite the opposite now, very rich and full-bodied. Plenty of dark prunes and black cherries, cigar boxes, furniture polish and deep earthy notes underneath. Then also dark chocolate, walnuts and tobacco leaves, along with whiffs of herbal tea. Old leather too. Very forthcoming.
Mouth: very intense again. Lots of cedar wood with dark fruits. Plums, cherries and raisins. Then back to leather and hints of black pepper. Tobacco is really a big component here, along with a subtle mentholated note, liquorice, cinnamon and subtle clove. Bitter orange peels underneath, but never becoming too rustic in my opinion.
Finish: long, with a more resinouswoody notes but only a mildly bitter herbal note.
The other side of the spectrum. This is a very rich and intense armagnac, in a more robust tradition but showing an impressive width of flavours. Very typical, and rather well priced too. Score: 90/100
Bas-Armagnac Garreau 32 yo 1992 (52,6%, Liquid Treasures ‘Collection du Chai Doré’ for Bar Arrangé Korea 2025)
Nose: very elegant hints of polished floors and furniture, with floral overtones of hyacint. Then some peaches and caramelized white chocolate in the background, along with fresh mint leaves and light volatile notes. Later it also develops a mossy / leafy background note.
Mouth: a slightly punchy attach, with plenty of rich woody notes, as well as eucalyptus oil and mint. Then tobacco leaves, a little leather, some walnuts and a drop of really old Oloroso. Underneath there are still plummy notes and a brighter citrus note.
Finish: long, citrusy and nutty, with some dark pastry notes.
Really good armagnac, well refined by long ageing. The woody side is less than the 1988 but still borderline – luckily there are also more fruity notes in this case. A classic profile. Still a few bottles available from eSpirits. Score: 88/100
Bas-Armagnac Marquesteau 25 yo 1998 (51,7%, Grape of the Art 2024, cask #225, 310 btl.)
Nose: a really nice mix of candle wax and polished floors. Wet wood. Nice mint and berry aromas, as well as blood oranges, prunes and juicy apricots underneath the uniquitous woody side. Hints of vanilla too. Really aromatic and rather on the heady / varnished side of the spectrum.
Mouth: more exotic woods come out, along with cigar leaves, chocolate mints, a hint of salted caramel and the acidity of artisan coffee. Also walnuts, sour cherries and marmalade. Then the tobacco keeps increasing, along with herbal drops, some drying tannins and hints of leather.
Finish: quite long, with dark toasted wood, mint, vanilla and wood spice.
Quite an intense armagnac, with deep flavours and a firm woodiness that is slightly drying but overall quite pleasant. A very classy / classic example, but good value for money. Available from several GotA partners. Score: 86/100
Armagnac Jean Cavé 1979 (54,8%, Swell de Spirits 2024, 200 btl.)
Nose: quite some furniture polish, light glue and cigar boxes. Some cherries in the background, as well as light acidic chocolate. Then earthy rancio, a bit of forest floor, sweet cinnamon and clove. Whiffs of eucalyptus as well.
Mouth: really punchy, with more exotic woods, plenty of tobacco notes and light hints of varnish. Hints of aniseed and more of this acidic dark cocoa. Old herbs, a little earthiness again and resinous notes.
Finish: quite long, quite concentrated, on eucalyptus, old oak and rancio.
Not that far from the Marquesteau: slightly robust and rustic. This one has a less intrusive oakiness, yet it also shows a slightly flatter profile despite the higher ABV. Score: 86/100