Eric Artiguelongue XO 15 Year

Eric Artiguelongue XO 15 Year comes from the Bas-Armagnac village of Labastide-d'Armagnac, where the Artiguelongue family has been distilling since 1949. This expression spends a minimum of fifteen years in French oak, aging in the humid Gascon climate that slows evaporation and allows for a refined integration of spirit and wood. Armagnac is distilled just once in a column still rather than twice in pot stills like Cognac, which preserves more of the base wine's fruit character and creates a richer, more rustic profile. Eric Artiguelongue's approach emphasizes elegance within that single-distillation framework, coaxing out floral and stone fruit notes that feel closer to Alsatian eau-de-vie than to heavy, brooding brandies. The distillery works from Labastide-d'Armagnac in the heart of Bas-Armagnac, the westernmost and most prized sub-region of the appellation, known for its sandy soils that produce lighter, more aromatic brandies. The humid Gascon climate slows the angel's share and allows the spirit to integrate with French oak over the full fifteen-year maturation period without becoming overly tannic or dry. Artiguelongue bottles this XO at 40% ABV, a proof that showcases the texture and fruit character rather than heat. The nose leads with perfumed fruit and violet, that distinct floral signature arriving early and staying present throughout. On the palate, the texture is notably silky, with the violet note persisting before giving way to caramel and darker baking spices at the midpalate. The finish pulls off a neat trick, landing juicy and almost citrusy with Meyer lemon peel and ginger heat rather than the dry, tannic fade you sometimes find in older brandies. That brightness keeps things lively and makes this remarkably food-friendly for a spirit this aged. Pour it alongside duck confit or foie gras if you want to lean into the Gascony connection, or try it with aged Comté or a wedge of Stilton after dinner. It also works beautifully in spirit-forward cocktails where you want complexity without excessive sweetness, think variations on an Old Fashioned or a Japanese Cocktail. In stock at Off Premise in Lincoln Park.