Delord Armagnac 25 Year

4.6/5 stars. 25 year old Armagnac for $116 CAD....What more can you say? I sort of questioned if it was cheap brandy or if there was something wrong with it at that price but the nose is incredible and the taste is rich and complex. Nice long finish and not too sweet of all things...It doesn't have the chocolaty intensity of a cognac that fills the room, but it does have very intense oak flavors and that's on top of a very well rounded grape spirit. It does have the typical potpourri armagnac bouquet...Think clove dominant, nutmeg, honey and cinnamon...But the old wood ads a dark brown sugar aromatic and a combination of things that almost makes you chuckle with satisfaction as you take it in. The Arrival is somewhat typical of a decent Armagnac but with an added oak character. Almost the sort of taste you'd get from a well aged whisky that had been sitting overnight and all that remains is the sweet oak aromas and flavors without the alcohol. Very reminiscent of a waffle cone to compare it to something tangible! After 20 min in the glass more wood sweetness coming out on the nose...Vanillas and carmels with clove and nutmeg... Something like a glue that you'd smell in some decent bourbons. Overall very good stuff. What a fantastic value from Delord!

Nose - grape must, butterscotch, vanilla, orange zest, date, fig, coffee, cocoa, cherry, apple, cinnamon, nutmeg, sweet oak, floral notes, pine, mild to moderate ethanol burn. Taste - tart grape, orange zest, lemon, caramel, vanilla, plum, allspice, clove, sour apple, bitter oak, fig, walnut, cola, cherry, mild to moderate alcohol bite, finishing medium length with tart grape, bright citrus, and sour apple flavors. Shifting gears to a few Delord expressions, and the classic 25 Year is first up. The nose is tart and fruity. It’s not as beautiful as those L’Encantada single casks, but it’s reasonably aromatic. The palate carries the same fruitiness, but unfortunately this crosses into sour, bitter territory. It drinks very young for a 25 year old spirit, probably partly due to the low proof. Overall, this is good, but it’s nothing special. Nonetheless at around $75 a bottle, it’s a solid entry into high quality Armagnac. I think you make significant sacrifices in the palatability department when you go younger and cheaper with Armagnacs, so the 25 Year makes for a good middle ground. This isn’t as good as the L’Encantada XO Lot 3, but it’s close enough to be in the same rating band for me.

First let me say this is my first dive into Armagnac. Being a fan of American Whiskey and bourbon this was a branching out for me. It was a way for me to challenge my palate with something new, and learn. I am so glad I did! On the nose this is honey, fig, a hint of chocolate, and golden raisin. It is so rich and decadent. On the taste it is buttery and the richness really comes through. There is a bit of cereal bar with that delightful fig and golden raisin taste. This has the slightest of burn. The finish was warming and oaky. Very pleasant and making you wanting for more. Overall my first dive into Armagnac is one I will repeat swimming in the waters of! I really enjoyed the buttery richness, and the rugged sweet fruitiness of this spirit. This was a super good spirit for me. I have no other things to compare it to, so I will give it 4.5 on taste and texture alone with .5 points of a buffer just in case my future explorations offer one better.

Excellent notes of dark fruit and jams, this is the direction I like my brandies to go in, showcasing the thick flavors of the fruit that go into them. Armagnac in particular seems to benefit from extended aging, as spirits under the 10-12 year mark still show the heat / fire of a new make spirit. This (allegedly) Baco-dominated blend puts the tannins in the backseat to the fruit. An excellent gift and primer to Armagnac (and brandy in general), this is a very fruit-forward brandy that stands apart from the recent trend of dry, tannic, woody "whiskey wannabies" released in an effort to woo whiskey drinkers.

Neat. Sample. First experience with Armagnac. I love Armagnac finished bourbon and I am sampling this before I compare two of my favorite bourbons of the year (Bardstown Chateau Le Boude vs. Joseph Magnus Cigar Blend). The nose is candied prunes and dates. Hint of walnut and pepper spice is pervasive throughout. On the taste I get lots of vanilla, over riped banana, creamy oak, and walnuts and prunes again. The more I sip it this delicious cherry is coming through. I could sip on this all day. It’s sweet, oily, coating and interesting. Not surprised I love when bourbon is finished in Armagnac.

This is rich, complex, and balanced. It's immediately fruity with a clear cherry presence. The cherry might be a bit much, but it is good. There is just the right amount of spiciness with cinnamon driving it. Cocoa builds the richness and enhances the wood by calming its harshness. There is plenty of sweetness but there is some woody bitterness that balances it. It's reminiscent of Glenfarclas, but is still clearly a brandy. There is caramel and some butterscotch. Vanilla is prominent and the spices also include allspice. There might be a little mild nuttiness like pecan in the wood, but it isn't much.