How to pour
an armagnac in
Let the glass and bottle come to room temperature, between 15 and 18 degrees. Chilled straight from the refrigerator, half of what you want to smell disappears.
Pour 4 cl into the tulip-shaped glass. Keep the bowl a little over half empty so the vapors can gather beneath the narrow rim.
Swirl it once, smell from a distance first, then move closer with your mouth half-open. Armagnac comes across more robustly than cognac, so give your nose a moment.
Take small sips and keep a glass of water beside it. If you’d like to reduce the alcohol slightly, add two drops of cold water; this opens up the fruit and oak notes.
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The story
Gascogne is farther south and smaller than the Cognac region, and its houses are more often small and family-owned. The white grapes first go into the wine press, and that wine is then distilled. Not twice in a pot still, as in Cognac, but usually once in a continuous column still. This distils less aggressively and leaves more of the grape in the spirit, which is why armagnac feels fuller and more rustic. It then goes into oak barrels, and only when the house decides it is ready does it go into the bottle.
The right glass
For armagnac, you want a tulip-shaped glass: the bowl gives the bouquet room, and the inward-curving rim directs it towards your nose. A wide cognac snifter does exactly the opposite. It spreads the vapours over a large surface, making the alcohol come first and hiding the fruit beneath it, and holding the bowl in your hand warms the drink above 18 degrees. We do not sell a glass with the word armagnac on it; these two tulip models do the same job. Both have a short foot instead of a long stem, so hold them at the bottom. You can find even more shapes in tasting glasses.
Schott Zwiesel Bar Special Whisky Nosing Glass 32.2 cl (4 pieces)
Lehmann Islay tasting glass 12 cl (6 pieces)
Both sets together € 68,90.
The right tools
For an armagnac, alongside the glass, use a jigger to measure out 4 cl precisely and a bar spoon to stir when the blanche goes into a cocktail. These are the bar tools we use ourselves; you can find them all in our bar tools & cocktail sets.
Glass set (our choice 01) + 2 bar tools together € 61,85.
What does this go with?
Armagnac is one of the aged spirits. Place it next to cognac to taste the difference in the still, and next to whisky to taste what oak does to a spirit. On every drink page, you can read the alcohol percentage, what it tastes like, which cocktails pair with it and which glass you need.
Variations & twists
Blanche is not aged at all and comes into the bottle colorless; it is fresh and grapey and works particularly well in a cocktail, with lemon or with tonic. A millésime from a single vintage should be enjoyed neat, because you are paying for the vintage and the cask. Between those two are VS, VSOP and XO, letting you choose how much oak you want in each bottle. Want to read more? View all drinks and brands.
Serving tip
Serve at 15 to 18 degrees, 4 cl in a tulip-shaped glass, and place a glass of water beside it. If you like, serve it with a piece of dark chocolate or a handful of walnuts; the sweetness and fat soften the alcohol without suppressing the fruit.
Good to know
Distilled once instead of twice
This is the real difference from cognac. Armagnac usually passes once through a continuous column still, while cognac passes twice through a pot still. Less vigorous redistillation means more of the grape remains in the drink, giving armagnac a fuller, more rustic character.
Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac
The region is divided into three parts. Bas-Armagnac is the western part, Ténarèze lies in the middle, and Haut-Armagnac is the eastern part. The label tells you which part it is, and alongside the designation, that is the first thing that says something about the style.
The grapes: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard
Four white grapes do most of the work. Ugni blanc is the most widely used, baco is typical of armagnac, folle blanche gives floral notes and colombard brings freshness. Many bottles are a blend, though sometimes a single grape is listed on the label.
Millésime: a single vintage year on the bottle
For armagnac, it is very common for a single year to appear on the bottle: the vintage year, known as a millésime. This is unusual for cognac, which is mainly blended. A millésime therefore comes from a single harvest and is not mixed with other years.
VS, VSOP and XO
The designations run from young to old: VS, then VSOP, then XO. They tell you something about the youngest eau-de-vie in the bottle and therefore how much wood character you can expect. Exactly how many years each corresponds to is stated on the bottle's label.
Blanche: armagnac without a cask
Blanche d'Armagnac is not aged in wood and remains colorless. You smell the grape and white fruit, without vanilla or coconut from the cask. A completely different drink from an XO, from the same still.
Frequently asked questions
What is the difference between armagnac and cognac?
Region and still. Armagnac comes from Gascony and is usually distilled once in a continuous column still; cognac comes from Charente and passes twice through a traditional pot still. Because it is distilled only once, more of the grape remains, giving armagnac a bolder, more rustic character. The armagnac region is also smaller, with more small family businesses.
What percentage of alcohol is in armagnac?
Most bottles are around 40 percent. Older bottles and cask-strength releases can be higher, so check the label for the exact figure.
What does millésime mean on a bottle of armagnac?
Millésime is the vintage year: the entire bottle comes from that one harvest and is not blended with other years. This is common for armagnac, but not for cognac.
Which glass do you use for armagnac?
A tulip-shaped glass holding 10 to 20 cl. The broad cognac snifter is actually not the best choice: it lets the vapors disperse, pushes the alcohol forward and warms the drink as your hand wraps around the bowl.
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