ARARAT Akhtamar 10 Year

Rating: 11/23 Anticipating this bottle after enjoying the 6 year old Ararat, I was eager to try this. Nose: Some woody notes are present along with savory characters and faint floral notes of orange peel. The aroma is unfortunately not very complex. Palate: This is an unusual one. It's sweet, with a somewhat bold floral flavor mingled with caramel and artificial sweetener. Some spices and leather are detected, alongside a noticeable burn and a good amount of vanilla. It definitely has some rough edges. Finish: A touch sweet and floral with vanilla and a slight burn. A subtle savory note lingers. - Conclusion - I'm a little let down by this. It's not bad, but it's not exceptional. It's less engaging than the 6 year old version and has some peculiar sweet tastes. I don't perceive the extra aging as an improvement. While the alcohol is less prominent, it's otherwise not as good, regrettably. Regarding the score, I'm leaning towards an 11. It could be a 10 or 12, but not a 9. Revisiting this the following day, I find those odd sweet notes are not as off-putting. It's not amazing, but I think it's closer to a 12 or 13. It might even be a 14. I'll settle on a 12, considering my initial impression.

A full-bodied, 10-year-old Armenian spirit from the Ararat line. The Yerevan Brandy Company even produces its own barrels for aging its rich, spiced brandies. It greets the senses with initial sweetness and spice, presenting notes of exotic spice, vanilla, plum preserves, toffee, and a subtle hint of potpourri. The palate is round and creamy with a full body, revealing flavors of sultanas, dried apricots, creamy vanilla, and a whisper of pear. This leads to a rich and spicy conclusion with hints of cinnamon and toasted oak. Recorded in January 2018, updated in June 2018, and again in January 2019.

Ararat 10 Year (Akhtamar), a gift from Armenia. Sampled from a 50 ml bottle. This brandy originates from and is bottled in Armenia. It has an alcohol content of 40%. Nose: Fruity and sharp. Palate: Moderately sweet with dark fruit flavors, including plum and fig. Oak notes are more pronounced towards the end compared to younger versions. It's less sweet than the 6-year expression. While smooth enough, I personally favored the 6-year. I intend to revisit and compare them in the future. Grade: B

I bought this on a whim, thinking it would be like French Cognac. I was mistaken! It's more similar to my Lepanto PX Solera Gran Reserva. It has a rum-like character with a bit of funkiness. I'm unsure if this is from the grape varieties, Caucasian oak, or the distillation process, but I enjoy it! It's a truly elegant, rich, thick hidden gem at a good price. Don't underestimate the 40% ABV.

Warm amber color with light copper highlights. A complex, vibrant aroma with notes of prune, beeswax, and walnut. The smooth, enveloping taste is rich with notes of dried fruit, honey, and woody nuances in the long finish.

Nose: sweet, creme brulee, cinnamon, plum Palate: sweet, oaky, pepper Finish: caramel, light vanilla, dark chocolate. Full-bodied, complex, yet light and approachable simultaneously.