Fig | Apricot | Clove | Tobacco | Cinnamon

Dried apricot | Leather | Toasted oak | Raisin | Tobacco | Clove

Cinnamon stick | White grape | Apricot | Leather | Sweet-savory mix

Armagnac is the latest release in Barrell Craft Spirits’ Cask Finish Series, with previous releases including Amburana, A Tale of Two Islands Rum Finish, Mizunara, Ice Wine, and P.X. Sherry. Armagnac is a traditional brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, in southwestern France. Armagnac is distilled from wine, traditionally utilizing column stills compared to Cognac, which typically uses pot stills, and then aged in oak barrels. Armagnac is the oldest known distilled liquor known to still be made in the world, with references dating back to as far as 1310. It’s known for flavor notes that include fig, apricot, caramel, vanilla, spices, and wood, along with leather, almond, and tobacco for older Argmagnacs.

Cask Finish Series: Armagnac brings layers of depth to this complex base bourbon blend that spans nine bourbons originating from three different states. Fig, apricot, clove, and tobacco are accented by cinnamon spice on the nose. Apricot spills over into the palate, transitioning to a denser, sweeter dried apricot flavor. Leather, toasted oak, and tobacco add a savory dimension, with raisin and clove complementing the layered mix of flavors. On the finish, cinnamon stick and white grape give way to more apricot and leather, ending on a sweet-savory note.

Barrell Craft Spirits has earned their place as bourbon’s preeminent blending house, and Cask Finish Series: Armagnac further supports this assertion. While it isn’t a groundbreaking whiskey, the subtle flavors Armagnac is known for are at the forefront of this finished bourbon. At $85, this is an easy buy recommendation for fans of France’s lesser-known type of brandy.