Laterrade 40yr Astor Select Domaine Marquet Single Cask Bas-Armagnac - 1983

Another selection that we picked tasting directly out of cask at the chai in France with Vincent this past spring. Domaine Marquet has built a local reputation through the generations as one of the top distillers for these traditional brandies. Their private family reserves like this cask have only been made available in extremely limited quantities to those with longstanding relationships in the region like Vincent and Astor. From eau de vie distilled in 1983 and aged in a solitary cask of local oak for 40yrs, the brandy was bottled at a cask strength with zero additives ever. Naturally the character of the spirit is unlike anything else in the world. Almost beguiling in profile the nose and palate are exceedingly mellow and easy on the senses. The notes are persistent but not overwhelming with notes of black cherry, pipe tobacco, dark bittersweet cocoa, French almond cake and deep resinous oak spices.