Armagnac VSOP 8 ans d’age 40%
100% Folle Blanche
Tasted: June 2011
A lovely nose. Soft, juicy and very honeyed. Quite whisky-like and displaying an almost sherry cask sweetness. Gentle, exotic fruits mingle with the lush honey. In fact it could almost be a mid teens Glen Grant or Rothes! With time it becomes delightfully floral.
Soft and a touch subdued on the palate by the natural oils. Again the honey develops slowly, eventually filling the mouth. One could argue that it is a bit linear and simple but it does that simplicity really well. A gentle nip from the alcohol releases mouthwatering dried fruit, which lingers until the oak slightly bitters out the finish. Very classy spirit.
Armagnac XO 15 ans de Age 40%
100% Folle Blanch
Tasted: June 2011
Deeper, nuttier with a load more mature honey, yet the nose possesses a lovely fresh almost grassy edge with hints of dried fruit and pepper. More oak than the vsop and again it has that Glen Grant/ Rothes style. Over time hints of earth and coffee appear.
The palate is very soft and juicy, opening with the subtle, mature honey followed by a gentle spicy, dried fruit rancio. Superb depth with the oak adding structure. Lovely complexity with a slight oily finish. Very classy!
Armagnac XO (15 Ans d’Age) 40%
100% Folle Blanche
Re-Tasted: Mar 2015
An aromatic nose of sweet, dried sultana and apricot with hints of marzipan oak. Lovely depth and complexity with hints of honey, herbs, orange and tangerine. The citrus notes become sharper with time and a touch of cinnamon and nutmeg appears.
The palate is fresh and elegant with plenty of lightly oiled dried fruit. Hints of aromatic spice, liquorice and violets come through on the middle. Seriously long and juicy with the marzipan oak putting in an appearance along with light coffee, minerals and a touch of spicy wood tannins.
Armagnac 1986 40%
100% Folle Blanch
Tasted: June 2011
A big, rich and powerful nose of nutty, toffee’d honey, absolutely dripping in luscious, mature honey! Although it is quite powerful it does have subtly and complexity with the dried fruit aromas only just poking through the honey. Again it reminds me of a bourbon oaked Glen Grant or Rothes as the oak is quite boisterous, but it needs to be in order to support this honey monster! Stunning!
Enveloping and exceedingly juicy with a lovely maturity. Again there is no shortage of luscious, mature honey and waves of juicy dried sultana and grape. Stunning middle, as it opens to show all of its spicy glory. Pure black pepper interweaves with the dried fruit and the sheer juicy sweetness balances the Armagnac bite with aplomb. Superb length with an earthy finish.
Whisky According to Chris Whiskyman 