Armagnac Comes to Boisdale

Monday 11 May * Boisdale of Bishopsgate

On Monday 11 May Boisdale of Bishopsgate will be hosting an enlightening tasting in association with Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac during which we will have an opportunity to sample seven outstanding Armagnacs.

ARMAGNACS

Comte de Lauvia VSOP
8 year old
·
Chateau du Tariquet
Le Légendaire
·
Sempé Armagnac 15 year old
Baron de Sigognac Bas
·
Armagnac 20 year old
·
Chateau de Pellehaut
Réserve de Gaston
·
Armagnac Castarède
Vintage 1979
·
Ryst-Dupeyron
Vintage Armagnac 1979

Members: at no charge (up to 3 guests); Non Members: £15. 6.30pm start. Bookings with Pam on 02072831763 or info@boisdale-city.co.uk. 6.30pm start.

Armagnac is the oldest French spirit, dating back to the 14th century when it was originally consumed for its therapeutic and medicinal qualities. Prior Vital Dufour, Doctor of Medicine, ordained Cardinal of the Catholic Church by Pope Clement V in 1313, whose spirited defence of this precious eau-devie was discovered in the Vatican library, before being translated into French years later by the Abbot Loubès, stated the following:


This water, if taken medically and soberly is said to have 40
virtues….. … it fries the egg, conserves meat cooked or crude, and in presence of herbs, extracts their virtues.

It makes disappear redness and burning of the eyes, and stops them from tearing; it cures hepatitis, sober consumption adhering. It cures gout, cankers and fistula by ingestion, restores the paralysed member by massage and heals wounds of the skin by application. It enlivens the spirit, partaken in moderation, recalls the past to memory, renders men joyous, preserves youth and retards senility.

And when retained in the mouth, it loosens the tongue and
emboldens the wit, if someone timid from time to time himself permits…..

Armagnac is made in the Southwest of France in the heart of the Gascony region. The spirit is obtained by distilling white wine in an Armagnac still, called an Alambic, that is then aged for many years in oak casks. It can be sold either as a blend or as a single vintage, which is specific to Armagnac. Much more than just another spirit, Armagnac is THE TRUE SPIRIT of France, reflecting a way of living in this particular region in the Southwest of France, as well as the nature that surrounds it, and the men and women that make it.

On Monday 11 May, Armagnac will be making its debut at Boisdale in Bishopsgate with a tutored tasting lead by Amanda Garnham from the B.N.I.A. (Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l’Armagnac). Amanda is English but lives in the Gers where she has been working to raise Armagnac’s profile here in the UK for the last 5 years. Joining Amanda will be Aurelie Desombre, export manager for Ryst Dupeyron Armagnac and Andrew Scutts who will be presenting the Comte de Lauvia Armagnac.

Members will be taken through a comprehensive tasting of seven different Armagnacs hailing from two of the three Armagnac AOC appellations: Armagnac Tenarèze and Bas-Armagnac. This selection has been chosen to introduce the wide diversity to be found in the universe of Armagnacs and to show how greatly one can differ from another, even if they are of the same age. An enlightening tasting that will revolutionize any preconceptions about this noble spirit.