Bas-Armagnac Archives

Armagnac Tariquet 12-year-old Garreau Pure Insolence

Two Armagnacs: Tariquet 12yo & Garreau Pure Insolence

24th November 202524th November 2025Coldorak

We start the week with two Bas-Armagnacs made entirely from Folle Blanche grapes: a Domaine Tariquet 12-year-old and a Château Garreau Pure Insolence. We’ve briefly explained what Armagnac is before when reviewing an excellent 30-year-old Darroze. But before diving into these two expressions, a quick note on how Armagnac differs from Cognac will be useful.

Domaine de Charron 1996 2008 Swell de Spirits Bas-Armagnac

Domain de Charron 1996 & 2008 Swell de Spirits

22nd November 202422nd November 2024Coldorak

Although Domaine de Charron traces its origins back to the early 20th century, its journey into Armagnac production truly began decades later. In 1985, Fernand Lartigue considered uprooting the vines on his grandmother’s plot in Perquie. However, his sons, Claude and Jacques, stepped in to acquire the 2-hectare vineyard, preserving the Baco vines and reviving Armagnac production. The vineyard’s care was entrusted to a neighboring winemaker, whose expertise ensured the creation of high-quality, natural wines from the start.

Thanks to our friends at Swell de Spirits, I’ve received samples of two Domaine de Charron Armagnacs as part of a box featuring malternatives and spirits. Let’s dive into these two releases, Domaine de Charron 1996 and 2008, bottled by Swell de Spirits.

Darroze Bas-Armagnac 30-year-old

6th December 20226th December 2022Coldorak

Wait, what? Armagnac? You’re doing brandy now? Ain’t this a whisky blog? You might ask me those questions and you would be right to do so. I have been wanting to cover a few malternatives on More Drams Less Drama for a few months now, but I hadn’t take the plunge yet. So why now? Well, as I have been saying since the start of the month and of my advent calendar, this year I am having a whisky and malternative advent calendar. And finally, the fifth dram of the calendar is not a whisky, but an Armagnac. So no whisky today, but the review of the Darroze Bas-Armagnac Les Grands Assemblages 30-year-old. Do keep in mind that I’m more of a whisky drinker, and though you’ll see a few cognacs in the coming weeks and months, as well as a few armagnacs and maybe (certainly) other spirits, these are the views and feelings of a whisky drinker, with a seriously lacking experience in other spirits.