Armagnac is a dry, golden brandy distilled in the district extending into the Landes and Lot and Garonne départements , pided into three distinct areas: Haut-Armagnac (around Auch), Ténarèze (Condom) and Bas-Armagnac (éauze), in ascending order of output and quality. Growers of the grape like to compare brandy with whisky, equating malts with the inpidualistic, earthy Armagnac distilled by small producers, and blended whiskies with the more consistent, standardized output of the large-scale houses. Armagnac grapes are grown on sandy soils and, importantly, the wine is distilled only once, giving the spirit a lower alcohol content but more flavour. Aged in local black oak, Armagnac matures quickly, so young Armagnacs are relatively smoother than corresponding Cognacs.

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Armagnac was distilled originally for medicinal reasons, and many claims are made for its efficacy. Perhaps the most optimistic are those of the priest of éauze de St-Mont, who held that the eau-de-vie cured gout and hepatitis. More reasonably, he also wrote that it "stimulates the spirit if taken in moderation, recalls the past, gives many joy above all else, conserves youth. If one retains it in the mouth, it unties the tongue and gives courage to the timid."

Many of the producers welcome visitors and offer tastings, whether you go to one of the bigger chais of Condom or éauze, or follow a faded sign at the bottom of a farm track. For more information , contact the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l'Armagnac, place de la Liberté, 32800 Éauze (tel 05.62.08.11.00, fax 05.62.08.11.01, www.cognacnet.com/armagnac/bnia ).

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