Scott_E
BHAKTA 50 Year Brandy
Other Brandy — Armagnac , France
Reviewed
May 15, 2021 (edited October 27, 2021)
So, the only other half century + spirit I had the good fortune of tasting was the Craigellachie 51. I also had the good fortune to share that experience with none other than @PBMichiganWolverine So, Pranay, ever gracious, provided me a sample of this “through the ages”Armagnac. Conceptually it’s like jumping in with Bill and Ted and their excellent adventure and going through centuries and decades, stealing pours, instead of iconic people, and blending them. So, partially to enjoy something good after a few days of unbalance from the vaccination (punched my card full) and because it’s been awhile since I actually had some time to sample, I figured I would treat myself.
The color is deep and rich of mahogany, like a Hacker boat.
It’s been sitting in my Coptia glass for about ten minutes and the aromas are immediately present. However, let it sit, and sit, and sit but taking in the notes over time. Baking spices are evident; prominently nutmeg. Cinnamon, cloves and oranges (like those kindergarten crafts we made for mom for Christmas), lemon zest and pineapples, raisins and apricots. Some dry Merlot-like notes seep through, but in the depths of the spirit. All about the nose exists this presence of and old, damp, musty cellar or library books. A similar experience with the Craigellachie 51. Like it was forever lost in a basement corner an recently discovered. Wonderful!
The initial arrival brings a varietal wave of flavors and sensations. Sweetness, then peat which rolls into a front forward prickle and then stone fruits and sherry. Apricots, raisins, Luxardo cherries and plumbs provide the fruitiness. Vanilla and caramel add some sweetness. All about, just so slight and not overpowering is the earthy, smoky peat with some oak and black pepper spices.
A long welcoming finish as you don’t wish this to fade with any rapidity. Cigar ash lingers all about. Fruity, black cherries with black pepper and oak tannins with a touch of earthy minerals ride the smoky ash for what seems endless.
It has been a long while since I recall experiencing something this rich, earthy and sweet. I can get lost in this spirit and not want to be found. This smells and sips more as a scotch then a brandy. This may be worthy of a $375 price tag. Take your time to enjoy the full experience. Thanks again @PBMichiganWolverine for sharing. A wonderful pour. #WWD. [Tasted: 5/14/21]
For more information about this Armagnac, if you are interested:
https://www.google.com/amp/s/www.forbes.com/sites/joemicallef/2021/01/16/tasting-an-extraordinary-old-brandy-bhakta-50/amp/
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Nice review and lucky man! Not really that interested in trying most stuff these days but the occasional dram like this I'd definately like to
@ContemplativeFox crazy to think that there is anything older than 50 years still around. 6-8 generations of barrel care thus far. Insane when you really stop and think. Thanks for the info.
@Scott_E I estimated based on knowledge that there are 37 barrels these bottles are being drawn from. At least 21 are from before 1970 and at least 4 are from before 1900. There are still plenty of batches to go, so we'll probably find evidence of more older barrels. I can't account properly for the angel's share or the possibility of duplicate barrels of the same year (I'm just reading the barrel years off of the batches on the Bhakta website), but with some hand-waving, easily more than 50% is over 50 years old (often much older) and somewhere in the 10% range is from the 1800s.
@Scott_E i think @ContemplativeFox did a pretty good analysis to hypothesize the breakdown. Wasn’t small, but not too large either.
@PBMichiganWolverine I wonder what the percentage breakdown is by age. For instance, is the 1860 stuff like .01% (an eye dropper). All in all, still amazing they even have anything remaining from any of the periods. Pretty cool.
@Scott_E this was history in a glass. I couldn’t but think that there’s components in it that were laid to rest shortly after Lincoln’s assassination. That’s pretty good that you were able to detect the smoke and peat. I couldn’t find it in mine, but I also had a different batch.
“Be excellent to each other”