As a longtime Brandy lover, mostly Armagnac & Cognac, I think it is the time that Brandy is ready to move onto the world stage but I wonder if some of it is for the wrong reasons as abv gets higher and the category is trying hard ( in some circles ) to emulate Whisky. I’d rather see it get its due by people appreciating the traditional methods. That ‘85 Hontambere ( and some of their other releases ) is stunning!
Yeah, this can be a problem. I don't think the high abv always works for brandy, and I think the sweet spot is 43-47% abv for Armagnac or Cognac, so yeah. But there are plenty of 50%+ that are also very nice. I think there can be something for everyone but I hope that traditional style doesn't get swept away by people chasing whiskey
Let’s hope that the traditional style doesn’t get lost. I’m fine with there being something for everyone and I do agree that some of the 50%+ abv Armagnacs & Cognacs are great...and some are not. My bigger concern is the obsession to move towards “barrel finishes”. I want Armagnac finished in the same barrel ( or same type of barrel ) it’s been resting in for the last 30,50,50 or more years!
I gifted my father a very nice (I hope!!) (and expensive) bottle of cognac for his 91st birthday yesterday. Thanks for your cognac-related newsletters for steering me in the right direction. I couldn’t get him the one I truly wanted only because Astor didn’t have anyone available for delivery for the rest of the day. My father has long appreciated Calvados, Armagnac, etc.
When we used to be in Paris often, we would run off to a store on Rue du Bac that specialized in Armagnac. My husband is still crazy for it, but then again, he grew up drinking slivovitz (sp?) I will share this with him!
As a longtime Brandy lover, mostly Armagnac & Cognac, I think it is the time that Brandy is ready to move onto the world stage but I wonder if some of it is for the wrong reasons as abv gets higher and the category is trying hard ( in some circles ) to emulate Whisky. I’d rather see it get its due by people appreciating the traditional methods. That ‘85 Hontambere ( and some of their other releases ) is stunning!
Yeah, this can be a problem. I don't think the high abv always works for brandy, and I think the sweet spot is 43-47% abv for Armagnac or Cognac, so yeah. But there are plenty of 50%+ that are also very nice. I think there can be something for everyone but I hope that traditional style doesn't get swept away by people chasing whiskey
Let’s hope that the traditional style doesn’t get lost. I’m fine with there being something for everyone and I do agree that some of the 50%+ abv Armagnacs & Cognacs are great...and some are not. My bigger concern is the obsession to move towards “barrel finishes”. I want Armagnac finished in the same barrel ( or same type of barrel ) it’s been resting in for the last 30,50,50 or more years!
I gifted my father a very nice (I hope!!) (and expensive) bottle of cognac for his 91st birthday yesterday. Thanks for your cognac-related newsletters for steering me in the right direction. I couldn’t get him the one I truly wanted only because Astor didn’t have anyone available for delivery for the rest of the day. My father has long appreciated Calvados, Armagnac, etc.
Oh those photos!
When we used to be in Paris often, we would run off to a store on Rue du Bac that specialized in Armagnac. My husband is still crazy for it, but then again, he grew up drinking slivovitz (sp?) I will share this with him!