Castarède Armagnac XO 20 Ans d'Âge

Nose: Rich raisin and wood notes. Sweet, earthy spices like vanilla, nutmeg, cinnamon, and orange zest, with a faint touch of mint. Cooked figs and dates, a hint of aged character. The aroma resembles that of a bourbon. Palate: A strong, drying start that erupts into fiery, spicy notes as it develops. After a challenging moment as the dryness intensifies, it transforms into a complex blend of spices, woody dryness, resin, grape residue, aged character, walnut, olive, ginger, plum, date, nutmeg, and fig, all mingling in a rich, thick pool resembling Greek coffee. The texture is excellent – full and rich, yet dry. Finish: Lingering. The vibrant palate gradually fades into a spicy coffee and tobacco aftertaste, with an interesting touch of spiced PX sherry. This potent, bold armagnac originates from Gascony's oldest distillery and features brandies aged at least 20 years. It possesses both power and elegance. The palate has an intense dryness that slightly masks the dark fruit and wood nuances. It continues to evolve in the glass over time, maintaining a dry profile. An ideal digestif, either neat or with a robust, mild cheese. It would likely also complement sweet black coffee. This is a superior armagnac, though not simple, and I wouldn't suggest it for beginners. "Above Average": 81/100 (3 stars)

Aroma: very intense, sweet, dried figs, caramel, vanilla, fresh apples. Palate: toffee, apples, dried fruits, apricots and peaches, oak. Finish: very long, tannins, tobacco, pepper.

As it turns out, this flavor profile isn't for me.

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