Eric Artiguelongue Bas-Armagnac XO 15-Year Review | A 15-Year Armagnac for $65 | The Liquor Connoisseur
- connoisseurofliquo
- May 5
- 2 min read
Updated: 12 hours ago
A 15-year Armagnac for $65 sounds too good to be true. Crystal and Roger investigate Eric Artiguelongue's Bas-Armagnac XO and find out if the value proposition is real or if something has been sacrificed to hit that price point.
Bottle Specs
Spirit: Eric Artiguelongue Bas-Armagnac XO 15-Year
Region: Bas-Armagnac, France (most prestigious Armagnac sub-region)
Age: 15 years minimum
Category: Armagnac — France's oldest eau-de-vie tradition
ABV: ~42%
Price: ~$65
Why it matters: Comparable Cognac expressions typically cost $100–150+
Why Armagnac Is the Value Play in French Brandy
Cognac gets the marketing budget, the celebrity endorsements, and the premium shelf placement. Armagnac — made in Gascony, south of the Cognac region — gets none of that attention, which means bottles at comparable age and quality frequently cost 40–60% less. Eric Artiguelongue is a small family producer in Bas-Armagnac, the most prestigious of the three Armagnac sub-regions, making traditional column-distilled Armagnac that represents the category at its most honest.
Tasting Notes — Nose, Palate, Finish
Nose: Fifteen years of aging shows immediately — dried fruit (prune, fig, apricot), vanilla, toasted oak, and a brandy warmth that's evolved and integrated rather than raw. The nose alone justifies the purchase. Palate: Rich and layered, with the dried fruit character deepening into chocolate and leather in the mid-palate. The sweetness is natural — not added — and it builds with each sip. Finish: Long, dried-fruit, and warming — exactly what aged brandy should deliver.
The Value Assessment
Crystal and Roger's verdict is unambiguous: at $65, this is one of the best value propositions in aged spirits. You're getting 15-year French brandy quality at a price point that most 5-year bourbons occupy. The only reason this bottle isn't more famous is that Armagnac doesn't have the marketing infrastructure of Cognac.
🥃 Crystal & Roger's LC Recommendations
If you've never tried Armagnac: Start here. This bottle is the clearest demonstration of why the category deserves more attention than it gets.
For Cognac lovers: Taste this alongside your usual Cognac and note what 15 years of Armagnac aging produces at half the price.
As a gift: A 15-year Armagnac at $65 is a gift that looks expensive and tastes expensive. It's the best spirits gift value available right now.
LC Verdict
One of the best value bottles in aged spirits, full stop. The Eric Artiguelongue Bas-Armagnac XO 15-Year is the Armagnac that should be on every serious spirits drinker's radar.
Drink To Remember, Not To Forget. 🥃
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