Cognac vs. Armagnac – great test vol. 3
This is a continuation of the test. I’m moving to an even higher age category, which is XO. This is, the same age class for armagnac and cognac, however each producer selects distillates within the XO class at their own choice. The final product must meet the minimum age requirement of the youngest component.
ABK6 XO Renaissance vs. Marquis de Montesquiou XO Imperial
Traditionally, I start with cognac, this time ABK6 XO Reneissance.
Nose: vanilla, oranges / orange peel, melon, very delicate aroma of raisins, moderately volatile.
Mouth: orange jam, orange peel, dessert/sweet, cedar wood, tobacco, dried figs and a bit of hazelnuts.
Finish: slightly spicy, long and pleasant towards the wood.
Armagnacs are represented by Marquis de Montesquieu XO.
Nose: grapes, apricots, licorice, butter biscuits, black tea – somewhere in the background, well hidden alcohol.
Mouth: it’s really sweet, dessert, vanilla, toffee, ginger, apricots and baked apples.
Finish: quite peppery, pleasantly warming, not too pushy, spicy, ginger-like, remains sweet at the same time and adds some tannins, very persistent and long.
Close to a draw … Despite everything, armagnac is winning again for me. First of all, the intensity of the aromas. I really try to be objective, but the spirits that I put together (random selection) just give such results. 4:1 for armagnacs.
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