Nose: Raisins, fragrant floral hints (violets, honeysuckle, queen-of-the-night), fresh walnut, clove, cinnamon, honey, a mild earthy oak aroma, brown sugar, dried fig, dried date, prunes, rancio. There is a faint smoke-like note (but it's definitely not a "smoky" spirit). [The dry-glass aroma is highly reminiscent of a oloroso sherry-finished whisky]. Palate: A warm, sweet oaky arrival with no tannic intrusion. As the palate develops, licorice and fruity notes emerge (apricot, peach) but the spirit always remains light and uplifting with a crème brûlée heart. There's an aromatic pastis-like flavour that you get on the roof of the mouth. Finish: Medium/long. A sweet grapey note that tails off into a hint of bittersweet chocolate and a tinge of white pepper. Full of character and constantly evolving in the glass, particularly the nose. The profile is complex and rewarding and the texture is "perfectly neutral" - by which I mean it is balanced so precisely that it simply disappears on the palate. For review number 400 I thought I'd step outside my comfort zone and taste something with which I'm not so familiar. It's literally decades since I last tasted an armangac and I've only had a bottle three or four times but I've always enjoyed it. There is an earthy, rustic, compelling nature to armagnac on both the nose and palate and a touch of something like hogo. One tasting inevitably makes me want to pour another glass. "Above Average" : 82/100 (3.25 stars)