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 adds 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 minutes in the glass, more wood sweetness is coming out on the nose...Vanillas and caramels 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!

Aroma: Unfermented grape juice, toffee, vanilla, citrus peel, dried fig, dried date, dark chocolate, cacao, dark fruit, orchard fruit, spice, sweet wood, flower notes, evergreen, slight alcohol sting. Palate: Sour grape, citrus peel, lemon, caramel, vanilla, prune, baking spice, green apple, astringent wood, fig, nut, soda, dark fruit, noticeable alcohol sting, medium finish with sour grape, vibrant citrus, and green apple notes. Moving on to some Delord bottlings, starting with the 25 Year. The aroma is sharp and fruity. It does not compare to those L’Encantada single barrels, but it has a decent scent. The palate has similar fruitiness, but sadly it becomes tart and unpleasant. This tastes much younger than a 25-year spirit, likely due to the low proof. In summary, it's acceptable but unremarkable. Still, for about $75, it's a good starting point for premium Armagnac. I believe younger and less expensive Armagnacs significantly compromise the drinking experience, so the 25 Year offers a good balance. It's not as good as the L’Encantada XO Lot 3, but it's comparable enough to receive the same score.

To begin, this is my first foray into Armagnac. As a fan of American Whiskey and bourbon, this was an attempt to broaden my horizons and learn. I'm so glad I made this choice! On the nose, it presents honey, fig, a whisper of chocolate, and golden raisin. It's exceptionally rich and decadent. On the palate, it's buttery and the richness truly shines. There's a hint of cereal bar alongside the delightful fig and golden raisin flavor. This has the slightest of burns. The finish was warming and oaky. Very pleasant and leaves you wanting more. Overall, my initial experience with Armagnac is one I'll certainly repeat! I truly appreciated the buttery richness and the robust, sweet fruitiness of this spirit. It was an excellent spirit for me. Without other experiences to compare it to, I'll rate it 4.5 for taste and texture alone, with an extra 0.5 buffer in case future discoveries surpass it.

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 wannabes" released in an effort to woo whiskey drinkers.

Neat. Sample. First experience with Armagnac. I love Armagnac finished bourbon and 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, overripe 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 some woody bitterness 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.