Spirited Saturday - Armagnac, Brandy & Cognac

Ararat ‘Ani’ 7-year-old Brandy, 80 proof

Yerevan, Armenia

Regular price: $36

Sale price: $32

This seven-year-old vintage brandy has an elegant bouquet with warm sunny hues and a gradually unfolding rounded powerful taste that shades into a soft and long aftertaste. Its composition and strength will reveal new facets of brandy and emphasize the fullness of the moment

Ferrand ‘Ambre’ Cognac, 80 proof

Cognac Grande Champagne, France

Regular price: $65

Sale price: $58

Pierre Ferrand Ambre is in a class of its own. Aged as long or longer than many currently marketed X.O. Cognacs, this Cognac is delicate, elegant and has a youthful freshness of a V.S. with some of the complexities of an X.O. As such, this Cognac is ideal for sipping and mixing.

Bourgoin VSOP Cognac, 86 proof

Charente, France

Regular price: $70

Sale price: $63

Maison Bourgoin is a family-run cognac producer that dates back to nearly 100 years. The business is now led by Frédéric Bourgoin, who represents the house`s newest generation of spirit makers. This V.S.O.P. is an approachable, entry-level expression with hints of vanilla and citrus fruit. As a truly artisan producer, every Bourgoin bottle is hand-filled and hand-labelled at the estate

Chateau de Millet Bas Armagnac 84 proof

Eauze, France

Regular price: $36

Sale price: $32

This traditional Bas Armagnac is distilled in a wood-fired still, in the welcoming vineyard of Chateau de Millet, run by the Deche family for over five generations. Aged for only two years in oak barrels, it has a pale, slightly amber colour and offers delicately fruity and vanilla notes. Warm and not very oaky, it is the ideal blend to enjoy alone or on ice and in cocktails.

Darroze Blanche Armagnac ‘Folle Blanche’ , 98 proof

Roquefort, France

Regular price: $45

Sale price: $40

The Folle Blanche variety is the historical grape variety of Armagnac. It has long been the only one planted in Gascony (before the phylloxera crisis) and was then called the Piquepoult of the country. It is known for producing very fine and delicate armagnacs. The intensity of the nose is very distinct: very fruity (grapefruit, plum, fresh grape) and spicy (Sichuan pepper). One could use it in a version of a dry martini as a replacement for gin.

Cocktails

Armagnac Sidecar

1 1/2 oz Armagnac

1 oz Triple Sec

½ oz lemon juice 

Add all ingredients together, stir well, strain and serve in an up glass

French Connection

2 oz Cognac

1 oz Amaretto

2 dashes orange bitters 

Add all ingredients together, shake well, strain and serve in an up glass