Wine Library TV

Search

EP 840 Armagnac – The Oldest Spirit In The World

Gary sits down with Denis Lesgourgues from the Armagnac house Chateau de Laubade. Denis shares some serious knowledge about this spirit from Southwestern France and taste through 3 different Armagnacs.

Wines tasted in this episode:

Chateau De Laubade XO Armagnac
1974 Chateau De Laubade Armagnac
Chateau De Laubade Armagnac Extra

Latest Comment:

View More

lev isl

1959 armagnac laubade for sale andmore high end liqur email ffor my # lev818isk@gmail.com

Tags: Armagnac, review, Spirit, Video

Related Stories & Episodes >

Episodes >

←  Older Comments
Newer Comments  →

  • Brent welcome to the “game” get in here nightly, we need u!

  • 🙂 YES!

  • Eric I dont hate, I love!

  • 🙂 Dave u rock man!

  • tflangan

    Consider it a gift, not a problem. ;-D

  • Kier from australia

    absolutely ripppppping show. loved every minute of it. cheers gv.

  • Anonymous

    Completely agree regarding price to consumption ratio. A decent bottle of scotch will usually set people back about 60-120 bones (single malts) depending on the style and region preferred. However, as I am sure many of you know this shit will last for a long time. I assume Armagnac would have a similar longevity, perhaps not as long as a cask strength single malt, but longer than a Ruby or Tawny port for sure, which usually lasts for at leas a couple weeks open if not longer depending on oxidation preference.

  • DanLacher

    Great to hear of a new beverage that I had not heard of before. Now it will be on the radar as I am out. Fascinating history and amazing thoughts on the single vintages and the bottling / cellaring process.

    QOTD: I have never thought to try that since I had not heard of it before today.

  • Anonymous

    Welcome, from your comment it sounds like you will fit right in with us wine nerds here in Vayniac valley!

  • Anonymous

    I am also going to have to agree with flavasauce. I also was under the impression that cocktails bastardize any alcohol you put in them. Then I tried a variety of cocktails that were truly artisan. A great cocktail made from tonic water and gin made from scratch (very hard to find) can be a MIND BLOWING experience. The perfect marriage to a certain alcohol is possible (except single malts, yes I realize I just contradicted myself).

  • Anonymous

    I do not know the answer, but from what I know about scotch and really old port I would have to guess no, they do not move it. When transferring old spirits or ports, certain off aromas or flaws can sometimes develop in the transference process. Distillers or blenders put these spirits/ports/ Sherries etc into barrels they know will enhance the beverage and give it the characteristics they want it to develop. This would lead me to believe that no transfer is done while ageing. But again, this is just a guess.

  • jonbergan

    Can't say I've ever tried armagnac but I'm definitely keep to give it a whirl after that session. Denis seems like a wealth of knowledge and a great guy to know. Awesome show once again Gary!

    JB

  • kyboy45

    Great episode. Being that I am from Ky, I love bourbon. I've never tried an Armagnac, however, I'm intrigued now. Those bottles look like the same ones that Pappy Van Winkles use…fantastic stuff. I'd love to try an armagnac in a sazerac cocktail. I bet that'd be fantastic. Great guest!

  • shoofeetv

    Fascinating blog! Your depiction is attention-grabbing. Thanks for sharing your valued vision.

  • WineTechie

    Great show! I love hearing about the history and details of the making of Armagnac. I will be adding this to my purchase list.

    QOTD: I'm more of a purist so I would not want to create a cocktail. Imho, it would be like adding ice to my wine!

  • QOTD:
    For young Armagnac (VS) pairing it with pear, apple, ginger, some lime, agave syrup…

    For a bit older Armagnac (VSOP), maybe doing something similar than mint julep but going with maple syrup instead of sugar and of course Armagnac instead of Bourbon, cracked ice, mint… mmmmm 🙂

    Anything older than VSOP, neat only

  • cheers!

  • Anonymous

    what?

  • Anonymous

    I kind of like fake cheese with my lobster. NOT!

  • Richie

    One of my favorite episodes so far. Great job guys! I really had some fun watching this.
    QOTD: Never thought of it no. I haven't even hat Armagnac by it's self.

  • philoxera

    Huh huh

  • JimboJones86

    Fantastic episode Gary, very entertaining and informative. Never heard of Armagnac before this; I'll definitely have to try some down the road sometime. Yet another “lesson” from GV! Gotta keep learning and expanding my palate!

  • Richard Parrett

    Hi,

    Im no lurker, so i thought i'd comment! just read your book and loved it. I'm gonna be crushing it as soon as my exams are over.

    great episode…i was in cognac last summer, visited Hennessey and loved it, after hearing Denis talk about Armagnac i'm definitely going to be trying some of this soon.

    Are you coming to the UK any time soon?

    Rich Parrett.

  • pangaea

    Good episode but how did the last one taste!?!!?!?!?!?!?

  • Confessions of a lurker: This show tops even the Brooklyn Beer show . . . actually why compare, both were just excellent. Also like the quick-hitters with the bag tasting. Someday I will have to burn my Amex and buy Armagnac

  • Phredd3

    Finally, a non-wine episode I can relate to. It was also great to see Gary – with his new, hip, internet style – interviewing someone with roots in one of the longest tranditions in all of Europe. Denis did very well, and was a tremendously knowledgeable and engaging guest. Well done.

    Although Armagnac is out of my normal price range, I do have an unopened bottle of Laubade XO sitting in my (very small) spirit stash. Now I'm really looking forward to giving it a try. I don't know that I'd be able to rip $200+ on a single bottle of vintage like you did on the show, but maybe someday I can go there.

    QOTD: I'm not a huge cocktail drinker, anyway, and I would regard an Armagnac cocktail as a waste of good Armagnac. For me, a cocktail is how you hide the flaws in spirits you don't think can hold up to drinking neat.

  • This is one of my favorite guest-shows so far! Really nice!

    I enjoy an armagnac with my coffee after a good dinner (with an enormous amount of wine, as you said, hehehe), though I never had a GOOD one. I'll buy a bottle of this Laubade. Very curious.

    Has this guy Twitter?

    Cheers, enjoyed this episode very, very much!

    Sander

  • theDude

    Finally!!!!!! you're taking my advice and putting together a decent show. You're welcome GV!

    When you have a great guest with a great topic and you do your thang………..it doesn't matter what terrible outfit you're wearing or what stupid thing it says on the wall. That may have been the moment you're life changed forever…..(Whoops, I had a Simon and Randy moment there.) Nice job Dog!

  • Excellent episode! Very educational and Denis was a wonderful guest. Great job interviewing Gary! You asked the questions we wanted to know. Have never tried this, but think it would be good for an Armagnac cocktail. The recipe we have uses brandy, but should work the same:

    Banana Bliss

    1 measure Armagnac
    1 measure creme de banane
    1 measure Gran Marnier

    Pour over ice and stir, then strain into a cocktail glass. Dip a banana wedge in lemon juice to prevent discoloring and attach to the rim of the glass.

  • charlzee

    No french pretention from this Monsieur…Je T'aime

    great show and Job GV

  • Mad props to Denis Lesgourgues…WTG on educating and promoting Armagnac with such vitality. Great episode, as I didn't really notice the length on it.

    QOTD: I am intrigued by some of the other previous suggestions (Manhattan, Sidecar, etc.), though I will side with CellarRat and some other Vayniacs. I must try before I attempt to blend, mix, shake, or stir.

  • cellarrat5

    Agreed, Denis was very approachable. I must say I was met with my fair share of pretention when I went to Paris last spring. I suppose I cannot blame them, however, I am a boorish American 20 something.

  • Skinnerc06

    QOTD: If I fart in Gary's face, would he give it a sniffy sniff. Warning: It's old world

  • Rhett

    The closest thing I had to a cocktail was a armagnac and tonic.. pretty refreshing!!!

  • Globex

    great episode!! Entertaining, and length for content was perfect. Gonna give that Banana Bliss recipe posted by Edie and Andy in Montana a try for our next party

  • cellarrat5

    Gary, I believe you have succesfully brought out more lurkers with this show than any other I have seen. You; with a little bit more of you, are changing the lurker world…

  • great show, very informative…a trip to Gascony sounds delicious.

    QOTD: can't help… I most enjoy fine spirits neat.

  • baines

    I was lucky in having been introduced to Armangnac (and foie gras) at a farm in SW France many years ago, and have invested time to expand my knowledge since then. Also introduced several friends to this marvelous gift of heaven and earth. Much to enjoy and learn in this video — thank you.

    The guest was succinct and engaging. So the host's many interruptions were unnecessary and irritating.

  • Good show. Haven't dipped into armagnac before. Those are pricey little guys.

  • wekemas

    Almost didn't watch today's episode as the length put me off a bit, but I was intrigued enough by “Armagnac” to give it a go since I'd never heard of it before. Have to say, I'm very glad I watched and yes I did watch the entire ep. The interview was extremely interesting, I learned a lot, and now I'm going to venture into the Armagnac world and try some. Great show!

  • castello

    that's not nice but laughing my arse off!

  • castello

    Mostly good interuptions. Great show, I now have to try some Armagnac soon.

  • philoxera

    I am a long time lurker and this is my very first comment ever!

    France's best kept secret. Thunder, Lightening, the perfect storm of a show GV. It is great to see Armagnac back in the frame. Apple crumble pairing….never thought of that. One of the better ones GV

    QOTD: French coffee…..(like Irish Coffee only with Armagnac and not Jameson)

  • ahw219

    Gary, alright you got me, I'm done lurking! I've found WL about an year ago and pretty much viewed all of your past shows. I enjoy your energy and enthusiasm. I look forward to new episodes weekly.

    I'm one of those palates that you've mentioned in the show, I love single malts, Cognacs, Bordeaux, Rhones, Cali wines, Ausy wines, fruity, vegetal, etc. If it is good to my palate I'm happy, I have no regional, varietal, stylistic, low/high ABV tunnel vision, variety keeps my palate fresh. Having said that I have for years and years been meaning to try Armagnac but haven't gotten around to it. Seeing this episode I'm gonna go get myself a bottle this week! I swear I could of almost smelled what was in the glass!

  • elron

    Who is Philoxera?

    😉

  • Delphi

    Yeah I too have done some lurking. Just reminds me of that terrible line in the movie 4 weddings & a funeral… (Andie MacDowell in hotel corridor) so I had to quit.

    I hear the Gascon have some of the lowest heart disease rates in the world thanks to Armagnac. Aaah the life-giving qualities of wine.

    Any other commenters around here from Dublin, Ireland?

    Peace

  • M Cole

    I am excited to try armagnac. They have the 74 vintage at my local shop.

  • Best low budget widely distributed armagnac to buy? Doesn't have to be bottom shelf but not shelling out $80 a bottle that's for sure. Barely removed CKC

  • Also LOVE the reference to his squat brother with a low center of gravity playing forward. #rugby

  • I normally dislike the guests shows, but this guy was good! Thanks for the info on Armagnac.
    AND FINALLY I'm caught up on WLTV!! 12 episodes today > . >

←  Older Comments
Newer Comments  →

Close

Not Subscribed to WLTV yet?

Never miss an episode and get notifications on the hottest wine deals!

No thanks.