Armagnac is a type of French brandy produced in the Armagnac region in Gascony, southwest France. It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes. Armagnac is the oldest known type of brandy and is single distilled, which makes it brown in color, robust, and full-bodied. It is predominantly made from four types of grape, though a total of ten types of grape can be used to make it. The Armagnac region lies between the Adour and Garonne rivers in the foothills of the Pyrenees and was granted Appellation dOrigine Contrôlée (AOC) status in 1936. The official production area is divided into three districts that lie in the departments of Gers, Landes, and Lot-et-Garonne. The region contains 15,000 hectares (37,000 acres) of grape-producing vines.

The major difference between Armagnac and Cognac is the distillation process. While Cognac is twice distilled using a pot still, Armagnac undergoes column distillation, though much different from the large, modern industrial stills often used to produce neutral spirits like vodka. Armagnac is more rustic in production, which results in a full-flavored brandy that is a bit more forward and punchy. Armagnac is sold under several classifications, mostly referring to the age of the constituent brandies. When Armagnacs of different ages have been blended, the age on the bottle refers to the youngest component. A three-star, or VS, Armagnac is a mix of several Armagnacs that have seen at least one year of aging in wood. For VSOP, the aging is at least four years, and for XO and Hors dâge, ten years. Vintage Armagnac is relatively affordable compared to other aged spirits, and it’s a great option if you seek a bottle to commemorate a particular year.