Evening Standard Brandy Recommendations
The Evening Standard has been reviewing much of the golden nectar recently. In Nicky Rampley-Clarke’s article ‘Best Digestifs To Sip On Post Dinner’ he includes:
Hermitage 1995 Grande Champagne Cognac
‘A bottle to bring out for special occasions – and, indeed, the guests you really, really like – the Hermitage 1995 Grande Champagne Cognac is remarkably mature with flavours of butterscotch, walnuts, biscuits, baked apple peel, mandarin peel and damson. Rich and complex, this is an investment digestif.’
In another of his articles, ‘Best Armagnacs to Buy in 2023’ Nicky describes armagnac as ‘a distinctive type of brandy that’s made from grapes. Produced in the Gascony region south-west of Bordeaux in France, it is a sweet spirit that makes for a lip-smacking digestif. Think of it as a rustic rendition of brandy – fuller-bodied when compared to Cognac, perhaps.’ Two of our favourite armagnacs make his list:
Delord 25 Year Old Bas Armagnac
An Armagnac matured in oak barrels for 25 years and made from Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Bacco 22A and Folle Blanche grapes. Caramel, cocoa butter and vanilla make this a sweet sip indeed, alongside distinctive woody tannins, with the bottle itself presented in a beautiful wooden box. Great for a gift.
Baron de Saint-Fauste 10 Year Old Bas Armagnac
Soft and round with dried fruit and sweet nut flavours, this Armagnac delivers excellent value for money, while packaged up in a traditional bottle with curves in all the right places. Inhale those toffee, baked pear and almond aromas before drinking up that sweet, spicy liquid.