What is it?

Like Cognac, Armagnac is made from white wine grapes in Southern France and is aged in casks of black oak. The main difference between the two, however, is that while Cognac is distilled twice, Armagnac is only distilled once, which gives it more time in the barrel to develop a rounded, fuller flavor. Although it carries a strong aroma, it is rich with notes of fruits, butterscotch, vanilla and chestnuts, and as a result goes well in recipes involving such things. Prunes, apricots, figs, chestnuts and chocolate all pair well with Armagnac.

Recipes

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  Recipe

  Armagnac Prune Ice Cream

  This ice cream recipe uses David Lebovitz's simple formula to create your own custom ice-cream flavor with flavor infusions and add-ins. Here, chopped prunes soaked in Armagnac lend a flavor that…

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  Recipe

  Warm Fruit Gratin

  The creamy topping for this gratin is much more user-friendly than the traditional sabayon.

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  Recipe

  Clafoutis with Prunes & Armagnac

  Vanilla sugar is just what it sounds like: a vanilla-scented sugar, good for finishing desserts. It’s common in Europe but sometimes hard to find here; the clafoutis will taste just…

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  Recipe

  Classic Chocolate Truffles

  What sets these truffles apart from others are their velvety soft interiors, which the author achieves by using a higher than usual proportion of cream to chocolate for the ganache. Make it…

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  Recipe

  Walnut Frangipane Tart

  After the bouillabaisse has been cleared, serve this tart warm with a glass of Armagnac.