Eric Artiguelongue X.O.

N: Bit of a coy nose - feels like it's holding back, even with hard swirls. Red fruit with a cherry cola sort of effervescence, oddly. Bit of citrus, bit of oak. Definite ethanol presence - more than is expected (or welcome) at 80 proof. Some caramel with maybe a dash of chocolate. At times it smells more like a whiskey than Armagnac. P: Chocolate and lemons at entry. Some black licorice notes - ex-bourbon barrels maybe? Subdued cherry notes with a touch of cough syrup bite. Very dry. Some earth and chalky mineral with an inhale across it. Much like the nose though, it feels like it's holding back, or maybe worse, missing something. Finish is short with a touch of heat and a lingering citrus note with some bitterness. Bought this on a whim when wanting to branch out into some Armagnac. I've had a brandy or two, but never Armagnac best I can remember. This seemed like a low-level investment with at least a few years on it. I'm not terribly impressed. The core of the profile - dry cherry with some herbal/licorice type notes - could be interesting, but it really needs more to sing on top of it. There's really just not much here. It's drinkable, but basically forgettable. _______ Please come join an unofficial Distiller community on Discord: https://discord.gg/VSmCvzAQfH. We chat spirits (and other things) in real time while being a great resource to each other for recommendations, finding deals, and generally enjoying the journey together. (If the link is expired, post a comment and I will provide a new one.)