Darroze Les Grands Assemblage 40 Year

A quick search tells me Armagnac is a French brandy made using column stills, unlike the pot stills typically used for brandy and Cognac. This should result in a lighter alcohol profile, allowing the oak casks to impart more character and depth than standard, high-proof brandy. If this isn't quite right, please correct me in the comments. This spirit isn't my usual category, and I'm eager to learn more. The color is stunning- a deep, dark mahogany resembling worn leather. It's quite viscous and doesn't leave typical legs; instead, it forms numerous drops of various sizes. The aroma brings to mind different cola flavors: Coca-Cola, Mr. Pibb, and a touch of Dr. Pepper. The grape notes previously mentioned also blend in with significant sugary, caramel sweetness. Oak notes provide a bit of vibrancy and sharpness as it rests. I must say, it smells fantastic. The taste is heavily dominated by grape soda and Mr. Pibb. It's so intensely sweet that the alcohol is masked. Oak spirals introduce a rough edge, which prevents it from being an overwhelming grape and toffee flavor bomb. While I can't pinpoint how 40 years in the barrel shaped the flavor or complexity, this must have been even sweeter going into the cask if it remains this rich and sweet four decades later. The finish is surprisingly brief. I anticipated lingering notes of everything here, but they're absent. A quick burst of intense sweetness and oak, and then it's gone. Nothing cloying, but nothing unpleasant either. Overall, it's interesting to experience something so aged, but I'm afraid it's not to my liking. I've sampled sweet whiskies before, but nothing quite as sweet as this (that I can easily recall). I am very curious about the price point, though. Thank you for the aged pour. It was cool trying something this old. Cheers.

I'm doing a second review today to try and compensate for my recent absence. A sample of this came to me from For a complete explanation of what Armagnac is, please refer to 's review and comments. This 40-year-old was bottled at 43% ABV, and I have no information on whether it's chill-filtered or has any added coloring, but it presents a beautiful red mahogany hue in the glass. The nose is dense, rich, and full. A very dark sweetness, similar to overcooked caramel. This quickly shifts to a sugary sweetness. One word... GRAPES! Grape jelly, raisins, grape soda, grape Dimetapp (children's cough syrup), and grape Big League Chew gum. It's astonishing how much of an artificial grape profile is packed in here. Some other notes emerge after a while. Blackberries, blueberries, honey, sweet vermouth. Savory caramel, pie crust, very confectionary. Hazelnuts and pecans, slightly salty. The palate is very sugary sweet, but also earthy with some bitterness. Strong grape candy flavors, red wine like a merlot (yes, I know merlot grapes aren't used here), vermouth. Grape cough syrup, grape juice, raisins, some faint berries. Overall, excessively sweet. A medium-bodied texture that is thick, coats the tongue, and is dry. The finish is medium-long, sweet and bitter, thick and dry. This reminds me of the second time I tasted the Kavalan Vinho Barrique Cask (not the first time; that experience was amazing). Just a sugary mess and off-putting. This is my initial encounter with Armagnac, so I'm uncertain if this is a typical profile or not, but if it is, I'd rather stick to whisky and save my teeth from the sugar onslaught. Cheers

One of the bottles I opened to share tonight with family during a Thanksgiving meal. I haven't had many Armagnacs before, maybe one or two. However, you can't go wrong with something aged for 40 years in a cask. The aroma is incredible. Among the best aromas I've experienced recently. I'd almost compare it to the Hibiki 21—highly fragrant, like a potpourri of cedar and ripe red apples. The palate is a step down from the aroma, unfortunately. It's good... honestly, who am I to complain or find fault with a 40-year-old? A great bottle to open with family.

Enjoyable with notes of plums, raisins, nuts, raspberries, oak, chocolate, biscuits, and spices. Still prefer the 1981 La Poste the most.

Enjoyed the darker fruit that comes through here; it's truly a classic.