Armagnac - The Best Bottles of Cognac to Purchase

The Best Bottles Cognac to Purchase

Armagnac is a type of Brandy produced in Gascony, a former province, and now a region of Southwest France. As a member of the brandy family, it is most closely related to Cognac, although there are some noticeable differences between them – More on that later. Like Cognac, the ageing of Armagnac is developed over time, in Oak barrels, which contributes to the taste and gives the liquor its dark, amber color. However, Armagnac is different from other spirits because it is low in alcohol (i.e. between 40% – 50%, similar to Rum or Schnapps), and there is no water added in production.

In ancient history, Armagnac was believed to be a merry-medicinal, of sorts - A drink of choice, believed in by many for many of its healing properties. Among these perceived special powers by potency, present a myriad of “cures,” like treating various ailments - now disproved by modern medicine. Armagnac was also commonly used as a salve, during massage, and said to sharpen peoples’ mental abilities, vis-a-vis, relaxing one’s body and mind, when applied topically, and also making them speak more fluently, when drunk. We agree that there may be some truth to these theories, although probably most notable when surrounded by like-minded peers, served in likeminded quantities.

COGNAC VS. ARMAGNAC – WHAT’S THE DIFFERENCE?

1. The wine base in Armagnac is sweeter, and distillation only undergoes one round. Armagnac has a stronger taste, as a result, because of the distillation process, which preserves most of the flavor in the base.

2. The wine base in Cognac is very strong, and it needs to be distilled twice, to remove some of the toxins. Dual-Distillation, ultimately, lightens the flavor of the liquor - It can’t be twice distilled, without losing some of the taste.

3. Cognac uses mostly one type of grape in production, the Ugni Blanc variety.

4. Armagnac is produced from many different grapes, with lighter flavors, and the wine base is more well-blended, than the wine bases of Cognac.