Barrell Cask Finish Series Armagnac

Barrell Cask Finish Series: Armagnac, Limited Release 56.5% abv

Armagnac, one of the world's oldest and most characterful brandies, imparts deep complexity when used as a finishing cask—infusing bourbon with notes of dried fruit, burnt sugar, clove, and tobacco. To complement these bold, spicy-fruity characteristics, the BCS blending team carefully selected bourbon barrels that would both harmonize with and amplify the Armagnac cask influence. The result is a bourbon that is robust yet elegant, with layers of flavors—from dried plum and dark toffee to warm vanilla—culminating in a long, lingering finish.

Flavour notes:

The aroma deftly navigates the ground shared by both bourbon and armagnac, exhibiting strawberry rhubarb pie and candied walnuts. Chocolate peanut butter cups on the palate signal a sweetness that would be liqueur-like if not kept in check by the high proof. Of course, only a splash of water is needed to push everything into decadence.

Neat:

Appearance: Deep amber.

Nose: A quick burst of pineapple belies an otherwise dark and brooding nose. Potting soil, cola, and grape soda recall the finishing cask's former contents. But a generous helping of caraway, pumpernickel, ginger beer, and menthol make sure you know you're drinking bourbon. An array of dried fruits and various nuts coalesce into a peanut butter and jelly sandwich.

Palate: Syrupy sweetness and bold spice are kept in check by some sandy tannin and the heat of its cask-strength. That residual sugar makes every flavor feel like a liqueur -- pithy orange, hazelnut, black walnut. Tobacco and chocolate covered espresso beans mirror the darkness of the nose and almost obscure a fresh pop of watermelon.

Finish: Clove and oolong tea aren't out of place in the finish of a bourbon or an Armagnac. What's notable though is how the sticky sweetness of dried plum and pecan pie clings to the palate alongside the lingering richness of custard.

Mezcal Amores have one simple philosophy: to strive always towards a balanced relationship with their ecosystem. This is why they exist. It is why they produce their mezcal following a holistic cycle “From seed to sip”. The Amores Philosophy stems from caring consciously for the earth, for the environment and for the people who make each drop of mezcal possible.

Mezcal Amores believe firmly in a better world, and they pursue this vision by empowering their teams and embracing local communities, by supporting local agave farmers (agaveros) and Master Distillers (Maestros Mezcaleros), because they understand that these are the guardians of their Mezcals. To preserve the past, Mezcal Amores look to the future, advancing a sustainable business model today, with their eyes on their impact tomorrow.

True to their philosophy, Mezcal Amores allocate as much as 20% of each bottle's net sale to the development of internal initiatives promoting social and environmental responsibility. These initiatives range from purchasing artisanal mezcal at a fair price, to providing state-of-the-art training for local distillers, from rescuing and protecting wild agave species, to sowing new seed using only organic practices.

Mezcal Amores' vision focuses on evolving, growing and adapting through the promotion of an artisanal mezcal supply chain, as well as on supporting an environmental model aimed at minimal impact and committed to continual innovation.