Château de Laubade XO Bas-Armagnac

Golden amber in color and oh-so-slow legs that are a sight to be seen. Oh the nose - earthy tobacco, slight leather, floral notes, chocolate, vanilla icing, orange zest, slight cherry and oak. This is decadent. I bought this looking to try armagnac for the first time. Frankly this seemed like the best option at my local TW and so here we are. By comparison to the solera aged Spanish brandy and well aged cognac this is just a step up the ladder of comole city on the nose. I can smell sweet floral, fruit and bakery notes from my snifter at arms distance reclining in my chair. If this is France then take me there. Yet there is a hint of caramelized sugar and banana wafting in that reminds me of rum and the sweltering heat of Trinidad (very different story but good memories). So, the taste? Viscous with a burst of leather and spice that fade slowly into dried fruits (figs, raisins) and orange zest on first entry. The spice reminds me of tasting a cigar wrapper before lighting it - a noticeable tingle and zing. A warmth is noticeable in the chest but is subdued compared to bourbon. More vanilla and tobacco come through on second approach with mildly drying wood tannins and dried fruit for days. The Demerara sugar and bananas from the finish sneak into the finish. This is just as hedonistic as the nose. That’s it - I’m sold. Armagnac and I will be friends. If this can be outdone I can’t wait to find out but will do so for now. With so few pours available around town (actually none that I know of) this becomes and internet hunt, click and wait game. So far I’ve found a shop in France that exports and has a bottling from my birth year I might need to grab. Any good leads on armagnac please send my way!

This XO comes in quiet. The nose doesn’t try to impress you it stays subtle, almost shy. A little dried fruit, a little oak, but nothing waving its arms around. You’ve got to lean in if you want to catch it. Once it hits the palate, though, it wakes up. The first thing that shows is apple warm, clean, almost like a baked apple without the sugar. That’s the backbone. Oak steps in behind it, steady and mature, and there’s just enough spice to keep it interesting without turning sharp. A touch of molasses and chocolate caramel rounds out the middle, giving it some weight. The finish hangs around longer than you expect. Apple and oak stay in the pocket, with a soft sweetness that fades slow and easy. This is a quiet, confident Armagnac. Not flashy, not loud just well‑made and honest. The apple note gives it a bright edge, the oak keeps it grounded, and the whole thing drinks like something built for people who pay attention.

Coming from the whisky world this has a enjoyable layer of different flavors, bit of smoke, dark and citrus fruit notes, nice oak notes present. So far this seems more intense flavors than xo cognacs I’ve tried.

Nose grape, cherry popsicle, oak, caramel, charcoal, green apple, vanilla. Palate vanilla, oak, grape, toasted caramel, cherry. A little hot at the finish and slightly sweet. Generally good, but sort of thin.

Enjoyable but slightly on the harsh side in terms of a biting nose. It’s my only negative comment about one you have to try. Very enjoyable.

Very good stuff with notes of bananas, caramel, butterscotch, raisins, apricots, and barrel spices.