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Tag: Bas Armagnac

Festive Flavours: 7 Spirits to Elevate Your Celebrations

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This Christmas, bring elegance and flavour to your festivities with these exceptional spirits. Whether adding depth to dishes, flair to desserts, or delighting loved ones with luxurious gifts, each bottle offers something special to celebrate the season. Here are Spirits to Elevate Your Celebrations:

1. Whisky: Mosgaard Organic Pedro Ximenez Cask Whisky

Rich and smooth, Mosgaard Organic Pedro Ximenez Cask Whisky is the perfect whisky for the festive season. With hints of dried fruits and spice from its time in PX casks, this organic whisky is an ideal addition to festive desserts like Christmas cake or a decadent whisky-infused bread pudding. As a gift, its organic certification and unique ageing process make it a standout for whisky aficionados.

2. Liqueur: Nusbaumer Crème de Framboise des Bois

A liqueur brimming with the vibrant flavour of wild raspberries, Nusbaumer Crème de Framboise des Bois is perfect for festive cocktails and desserts. Add a splash to Prosecco for a seasonal twist or drizzle it over ice cream and pavlovas. Its beautiful bottle and luxurious taste make it an elegant gift for those who appreciate fruity and refined liqueurs.

3. Cognac: Hermitage 30 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac

Aged to perfection, Hermitage 30 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac delivers a luxurious, smooth profile with deep, complex flavours of spice and oak. This remarkable Cognac is perfect for savouring after a festive meal or using to elevate indulgent dishes like sauces or even Christmas pudding. With its refined character and exceptional quality, it makes a magnificent gift for Cognac enthusiasts or those who appreciate the finer things in life.

4. Calvados: Toutain Reserve 3 Year Old Calvados

Bursting with the crisp, fresh flavours of apples, Toutain Reserve 3 Year Old Calvados brings festive cheer to both sweet and savoury dishes. Use it to create caramelised apple desserts or add a splash to pork marinades. Affordable yet full of character, this Calvados is also a delightful gift for anyone who loves fine spirits with a fruity twist.

5. Armagnac: Castarède Vintage 1994 Bas Armagnac

Aged to perfection, Castarède Vintage 1994 Bas Armagnac is a beautifully complex spirit with notes of nuts and dried fruits. Perfect for pairing with Christmas puddings or chocolate desserts, it’s a warming treat to enjoy by the fire. As a vintage Armagnac, it also makes an excellent gift for collectors or those who appreciate rare, high-quality spirits.

6. Grappa: Montanaro Grappa di Arneis

Made from the aromatic Arneis grape, Montanaro Grappa di Arneis is a wonderfully versatile spirit. Serve it neat as a digestif after festive meals or use it to enhance Italian-inspired desserts like tiramisu. Its clean, refined flavour and artisanal production make it a thoughtful and unique gift for spirit lovers.

7. Pineau: Château de Beaulon Pineau des Charentes White 2000

A blend of Cognac and grape juice, Château de Beaulon Pineau des Charentes White 2000 is a luxurious treat for the festive season. Its delicate sweetness makes it perfect for aperitifs or as a companion to cheese boards and pâtés. Its vintage status and elegant packaging make it a remarkable gift for anyone with a taste for unique and refined spirits.

Luxury Spirits for Festive Celebrations

Whether you’re crafting exquisite dishes, hosting holiday toasts, or selecting gifts that impress, these seven spirits bring quality, versatility, and festive cheer to your celebrations.

🎁 Shop now and make this Christmas one to remember!

Fall Favorites: Get 15% Off Autumn Drinks & Gifts!

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As the crisp autumn air settles in, it’s the perfect time to enjoy something warming and exceptional. We are delighted to offer 15% off on three of our finest spirits throughout October. These hand-picked selections make for exquisite seasonal drinks and thoughtful gifts, ideal for embracing the spirit of autumn.

1. Hermitage 30 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac
This extraordinary cognac, aged for 30 years, boasts elegant notes of oak, dried apricots, and a rich, nutty finish. With its refined balance and depth, it’s a true connoisseur’s drink—perfect for special autumn celebrations or as a luxurious gift for someone who appreciates the finest things in life.

2. Mosgaard Organic Pedro Ximenez Cask Whisky
Matured in Pedro Ximenez casks, this organic whisky offers deep, rich layers of dried fruit, warm spices, and a touch of sweetness. Its complex yet smooth character makes it a fantastic choice to sip by the fire on a cool evening or to share with friends over hearty autumn meals.

3. Delord 15 Year Old Bas Armagnac
This beautifully aged Bas Armagnac delivers bold, earthy flavours of prunes, vanilla, and spices, making it an ideal autumn indulgence. Whether enjoyed neat after dinner or given as a thoughtful present, it’s sure to be a seasonal favourite.

Take advantage of this October discount and enjoy these quintessential autumn drinks. Cheers to a season of rich flavours and fine spirits!

What is White Armagnac?

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When you think of Armagnac, the image that usually comes to mind is a golden-hued brandy, aged in oak barrels and enjoyed by the fireside. However, Armagnac begins its life as a clear spirit, known as Blanche Armagnac. This unaged ‘eau-de-vie’ is a crystal-clear distillate made from white wine, using a blend of up to ten different grape varieties, most commonly Ugni Blanc and Colombard.

Blanche Armagnac, such as Blanche de Cassagnoles, is intensely aromatic, offering fresh and vibrant flavours that are not found in its aged counterparts. Upon distillation, it carries fruity and floral notes of pears, white peaches, Granny Smith apples, jasmine, and lime flower, combined with a hint of spice.

Blanche Armagnac offers a new perspective on this traditional French brandy, with its lively and youthful character. It is incredibly versatile and pairs beautifully in cocktails where its delicate fruitiness and floral nuances can shine, as seen in the 18.50 recipe. For those seeking to explore Armagnac beyond the traditional oak-aged varieties, Blanche de Cassagnoles is a wonderful Armagnac for cocktails.

Created by Francesco Turrini from Milk & Honey, London, the 18.50 Cocktail perfectly showcases the versatility of Blanche de Cassagnoles Armagnac, highlighting its fresh and aromatic qualities. This delightful autumn blend combines the fruity and floral notes of white Armagnac with the rich, complex flavours of Lillet Blanc and Campari.

18.50 COCKTAIL

Ingredients:

Method:

  1. Pour the 60ml Blanche de Cassagnoles Armagnac, 20ml Lillet Blanc, 10ml Campari, and 5ml liqueur into a mixing glass.
  2. Fill the glass with ice cubes and stir gently for around 30 seconds to chill and combine the ingredients.
  3. Strain the mixture into a pre-chilled glass.
  4. Express the oils from the orange zest by twisting it over the glass, then discard.
  5. Garnish with a maraschino cherry for a finishing touch.

This cocktail is an elegant harmony of bitter, sweet, and fruity notes, making it an ideal choice for those crisp autumn evenings.

The Blanche de Cassagnoles Armagnac brings a fresh, pear-like quality that complements the herbal and citrus layers of Lillet Blanc and Campari.

July Offers Perfect for Special Occasions

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As we embrace the summer season, Brandyclassics is delighted to present our exclusive July offers, designed to add a touch of luxury to your celebrations. Whether you’re marking a significant anniversary, a milestone birthday, or simply enjoying a refreshing summer drink, our carefully selected spirits make the perfect gifts. Plus, enjoy a special 15% discount on each of these exceptional products:

Hermitage Cognac Cigar 15 – Perfect for a 15 Year Anniversary

Celebrate a 15-year anniversary or any special occasion with the Hermitage Cognac Cigar 15. This fine cognac is known for its rich and complex flavours, pairing wonderfully with a cigar to offer an elegant and memorable experience. Its intricate notes and balanced finish make it an impressive gift that signifies both tradition and sophistication.

Montanaro Grappa di Barolo – A Lovely Summer Drink

Looking for a delightful summer drink? The Montanaro Grappa di Barolo is an excellent choice. This grappa is perfect for sipping on warm evenings, with its aromatic notes and smooth finish providing a refreshing and sophisticated touch. It’s a wonderful gift for anyone who appreciates fine spirits and is ideal for summer gatherings.

Delord Vintage 1964 Bas Armagnac – Celebrate a 60th Birthday

Mark a 60th birthday with the extraordinary Delord Vintage 1964 Bas Armagnac. This exceptional spirit, aged to perfection since 1964, offers a unique and luxurious tasting experience. Its deep, rich flavours and historical significance make it a remarkable gift for such a milestone celebration.

Don’t miss out on these limited-time offers. Celebrate in style with Brandyclassics.

Delord 2006 Bas Armagnac Arrives

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As always at this time of year we bring to our shelves a vintage Delord 2006 Bas Armagnac that was harvested 18 years ago. It is the youngest vintage that we stock, and the perfect gift for those turning 18 this year.  Vintage spirits, such as cognac, armagnac and calvados, will always increase in value over time as only a limited number of bottles were ever produced. Once they have been drunk, there will be no more. The armagnac will not deteriorate once put into glass as the seal will keep it the same as the day it was bottled (although we do recommend resealing bottles every 20 years). The reducing supply, however, means that the value of vintage brandies is increasing all the time and being recognised as a shrewd investment.

Giving vintage armagnac as an 18th Birthday present gives the recipient choices. Either to keep, drink and enjoy or, keep as an investment for years down the line when 2006 armagnacs are far more difficult to obtain. So if you know someone who was born in the year that Italy won the FIFA World Cup and ‘Borat’ was released, this Delord 2006 Bas Armagnac could be the gift for them.

Christmas Luxury Gift Guide

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December is well underway so its time to turn our attention to present shopping. But, what do you buy for the person who has everything? Well, we’ve put together a list of our favourite, luxury drinks that will go down a storm this Christmas. Not only do they taste fantastic, some of the packaging is exquisite and will grace any sideboard with aplomb.

The three, classic French brandies of cognac, armagnac and calvados really come into their own at this time of year as their typical flavours of roasted nuts, spices and dried fruits complement the Christmas fayre brilliantly.

We have selected 5 of our favourites to feature here but go and explore our website, there are so many Christmas Luxury Gifts from which to choose.

Christmas Luxury Gift Guide

Hermitage 50 Year Old Grande Champagne Cognac

Winner of The IWSC Cognac Trophy 2021, this masterpiece is still in cask. The Judges described it as “Like opening an old leather-bound book or antique oak armoire. Figgy pudding and rich dark chocolate; wonderful rich spices and the bitterness of orange zest come through on the palate. Spicy but gentle and supremely dry.” RRP £531.60

Christmas Luxury Gift Guide

Toutain Reserve Odile 60 Year Old Calvados

This exclusive bottling pays tribute to Odile Toutain who, 60 years ago, took over Domaine de la Couterie. Distilled in 1959, it was carefully aged for 60 years in the family cellars before a limited edition of only 234 bottles was released. Presented in a beautiful carafe, sealed in a wooden housing, this is a truly rare gift. RRP £1164.60

Christmas Luxury Gift Guide

Darbeau 1943 Bas Armagnac

Steeped in history, this 1943 Bas Armagnac was distilled during the height of World War II when many wonderful brandies were requisitioned by the occupying forces. Few survived but this wonderful example of a top cru armagnac s one of the few that remain. Distilled 70 years ago, it epitomises history in a bottle. RRP £1908.00

Christmas Luxury Gift Guide

Hermitage 1923 Grande Champagne Cognac

Imagine life a century ago, that is when this stunning cognac was made. Tasting cognac from that era is a extra special treat, especially when, according to Olly Smith, Wine & Spirits Expert, it “has a gorgeous flavour, somewhere between a sultana and a sun-dried apricot with the spirit framing the layers with impeccable integration.” RRP £2086.40

Christmas Luxury Gift Guide

Hermitage Cognac Marie Louise Crystal Decanter

The icing on our Luxury Christmas Gift Guide cake! A masterpiece of smoothness, aged for 70 years in oak barrels, it is described by Victoria Moore of the Saturday Telegraph as “Likely to be one of the finest cognacs you have tasted.” This litre of amazing cognac is all wrapped up in a completely hand-blown and hand-cut, full-lead luxury English crystal decanter. What more could you ask for? RRP £2220.00

Montal 1962 Bas Armagnac

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Montal 1962 Bas Armagnac

A one off addition to our Montal range has just arrived; the Montal 1962 Bas Armagnac. The grapes for this armagnac were harvested in 1962. What a wonderful year of birth, but then we are rather biased at Brandyclassics Headquarters! It is rare to find these old bottles of Montal Armagnac so this is another gem.  It comes from the top cru, is presented in a very attractive bottle and has fruity flavours with toffee and coffee on the tail.

So, what else happened in 1962?

It certainly found its place in history as the start of the Cuban Missile Crisis but many other events occurred also. In the US / Russian space race, John Glenn became the first American to orbit the Earth, aboard Friendship 7 and a UK / US team won the Nobel Prize for Medicine for their work in determining the structure of DNA. There were lots of firsts in the music world too; the Beatles signed their first contract and released their first single ‘Love Me Do’ and The Rolling Stones gave their first performance at the Marquee Club in London. The first James Bond film ‘Dr No’ premiered in London and on the golf course, Jack Nicholas won his first major after a play off with Arnold Palmer. It really was an exciting year to be born, and those who were, share their birth year with Tom Cruise.

If you are thinking of buying a vintage from 1962, take a look at our other offerings:

Castarede 1962 Bas Armagnac

Delord 1962 Bas Armagnac

Armagnac, The Thinking Woman's Brandy

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thinking woman's brandyMarch is a month that celebrates women, with International Women’s Day and Mother’s Day well established in the worldwide calendar.  Jane McQuitty has been writing in The Times about the relationship between women and armagnac.  Not dissimilar to cognac, armagnac is made on a continuous column still and its lower distillation range, of between 52 – 72 % ab, allows a greater fruitiness in the spirit, although sometimes at the expense of refinement.  She heralds the many female armagnac producers including our very good friend Florence Castarede, the sixth generation of her family to produce the very fine Castarede Bas Armagnac.  The article also quotes another friend of ours, Amanda Garnham, who lived and worked in the Armagnac region for decades.  Amanda said that “Armagnac is the thinking woman’s brandy ”.   An interesting analogy that might refer to someone you know!

So, if you are still looking for a Mother’s Day gift, take a look at all the wonderful armagnacs we have to offer.  Many are vintages, labelled with the year they were harvested and come from the top cru, Bas Armagnac.

Magnums of Armagnac for Claridge's Hotel

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MagnumsJust in receipt of these beauties.  Three magnums of Bas Armagnac, from the highly respected producers Castarede and Delord, will soon be on their way to Claridge’s Hotel in London.  No doubt they will look spectacular in the newly refurbished hotel.  Did you see the recent documentary on BBC 2, Claridge’s, following the most amazing transformation of the hotel whilst it remained open?  Well worth a watch!

Of course, the hotel provides beautiful surroundings if you would like to pay a visit to try one of these superb armagnacs in situ.  But if a trip to London is not on the cards, you could whet your appetite by reading the tasting notes or purchasing one of our 70cl bottles online.  The links can be found here: Castarede 1965 Bas Armagnac Castarede 1980 Bas Armagnac  Delord 1970 Armagnac

 

Bas Armagnacs from 1987 and 2005

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Bas ArmagnacsThe latest Bas Armagnacs to join our stocks are these two vintage beauties: Chateau de Bordeneuve 1987 and Delord 2005.  Distilled in the year printed on the label, they come from two of the most respected armagnac producers and the grapes were grown in the top cru of Bas.

The 2005 is the youngest vintage that we stock, and a perfect gift for those with an 18th birthday this year.  Vintage spirits, such as cognac and armagnac, will always increase in value over time as only a limited number of bottles were ever produced so once they have been drunk, there will be no more. The brandy will not deteriorate in the glass as the seal will ensure it stays the same as the day it was bottled (although we do recommend resealing bottles every 20 years). The dwindling supply does, however, mean that the price of vintage brandies is increasing all the time and their purchase is becoming recognised as a shrewd investment. Buying vintage armagnac as an 18th Birthday Present gives the recipient choices. Either to keep, drink and enjoy or, keep as an investment for years down the line when 2005 armagnacs become rare and highly sought-after.