Traditionally, Armagnac was aged in local oak though nowadays barrels might come from further north in France. The technical storage or access is strictly necessary for the legitimate purpose of enabling the use of a specific service explicitly requested by the subscriber or user, or for the sole purpose of carrying out the transmission of a communication over an electronic communications network. Today Janneau is not just one of the oldest of the great houses but also the world’s leading brand of Armagnac – available in 80 countries worldwide. Clés Des Ducs VSOP Vieil Armagnac is best enjoyed over ice or mixed with orange juice and a cinnamon stick. This expression has been matured for an impressive 50 years in Monlezun oak casks, allowed plenty of time for its flavour profile to develop and grow rich.

This French brandy may only be produced in the Armagnac region of southwest France and is aged in oak barrels for extra depth. Unsurprisingly, this has influenced their fantastic Armagnac, as it tastes awfully royal and important as well!

It is distilled from wine usually made from a blend of grapes including Baco 22A, Colombard, Folle blanche and Ugni blanc, traditionally using column stills rather than the pot stills used in the production of cognac, which is made predominantly from ugni blanc grapes. After distillation Armagnac is matured in oak casks sourced from the local forests of Gascony and Limousin. The Distillery only produces a single varietal offering of its unique Armagnac or on a bottled-on-demand arrangement. Janneau have been producing France’s oldest spirit since Pierre Etienne Janneau founded the maison in 1851. It's always an impressive feat to see spirit distilled so long ago survive to this day without being enjoyed, but, well, here we are.

Only 400 litre French wood barrels are allowed and a proportion will be kept in new wood to impart spice and tannin. You can start your meal the Gascony way too, with a glass of chilled Floc de Gascogne, a blend of grape juice and brandy, not dissimilar to Pineau des Charentes. Younger fresher Armagnacs are great in simple cocktails like an Old Fashioned or a Sidecar, whereas the older examples are best sipped neat. Armagnac is a unique French brandy that is only produced in the Armagnac region in southwest France. Our primary audience is from the United States, the United Kingdom, Canada, Australia, and Europe, although we have readers from as far away as Mauritius!

The Armagnac region produces 3 million bottles a year of brandy, compared to the 220 million produced in Cognac. In the 18th century, Armagnac would have been made with pot stills but in the early 19th century a unique style of column still was introduced. The Distillery prides itself in preserving the unique character of the Armagnacs, keeping the flavours just like their first bottle. Maison Janneau was founded by Pierre Etienne Janneau in 1851 at Condom in Armagnac, and this is still where Janneau carries out all of its Grand Armagnac production; the ageing is still carried out in the ancient cellars built in 1851. Many other Maisons will produce their ‘Eau du Vie’ at a cooperative distillery or by using one of the regions classic ‘mobile stills’ which travel from producer to producer.