Armagnac: A little-known spirit

We’ve been talking about cocktails (and we’re not stopping) but let’s pause and consider a spirit worth sipping on its own. A glass of Armagnac will last you the evening, which is worth mentioning on a day when you’ll likely do little more than sleep off last night’s feast.

Armagnac is named for the region where it’s made, just south of the birthplace of the more popular (and more expensive) Cognac.

It’s a grape brandy, made exclusively in small batches from white wine grapes and stored in white oak barrels. Cognac is distilled twice, Armagnac just once. Critics like the latter for complex flavor profiles that range from fruity to caramel to cinnamon, depending on age. Sniff, taste and take your time.