Premier Rock Forum

Domaine Labet Marcs du Jura. Pomace brandy from Jura region made with primarily savagnin and chardonnay, aged for ten years in French oak. Incredible. At ten years, $40 or so and 45% abv, probably one of the best values in brandy I've come across. Nose is grappa-like but the palate is more like spicier Calvados. Kind of a different buzz, too.

Found some Tariquet 8-year Cask-Strength Armagnac on my recent trip to Napa. At 51% abv or whatever it is (and only $42) it's exceedingly easy to drink.

If you're in CA or a place they can ship to, K&L has an amazing supply of specially-imported armagnac right now. Crazy shit. 36 year old armagnacs for 100 bucks and so forth. It's a goddamn wonderland. I'm chilling with the remainder of a bottle of Laballe VS (about half of which went into a punch for a party), and it's a fantastic fucking rocks drink, rich and fruity but also young and rough in that way that I associate with the best day-to-day fuck-it-i'm-going-to-have-a-bourbon bourbons.Next paycheck I'm going to pick up one of the old ones.

That's an incredible deal for 36-year. Opened a 25-year Dartigalongue last night. Phenomenal stuff, and slept so good. Also grabbed a bottle of 1970 Ferte de Partenay for my wife; her birth year. We'll be opening it in ten days, if it makes it back to America.

The distiller for Charbay came into work the other day and I got to taste their distilled in 1983 (27 yr) and 1989 (24 yr) brandies. The former is about $240 for a 375ml and the latter $250 for 750ml. Good, but very expensive.On the other hand, really great values in brandy I've tried lately have been Soberano Solera Brandy de Jerez from Gonzales Byass. It's a bit lower abv, high 30s I think, but is fantastic for mixing and sips really nicely as well. At about $20 a bottle it's great. And from Italy, Vecchia Romagna, which is made in the style of Cognac using trebbiano (ugni blanc) grapes, same as Cognac. Comes in a funny, short, stupid triangular bottle that is totally unfit for behind a bar. The black label is a five year for around $20. Also great for mixing, makes wonderful sidecars.

My first drink was a Brandy and Coke.Wisconsin is huge on Brandy. Maybe because it's used in Wintery drinks?

No one seems to know why Wisconsin is so 'big' on brandy. I mean you use it in old fashioneds. Is it bigger than that? Other places drink winter cocktails too. I'll take a hot toddy with brandy any day over Bourbon or rye.

This stuff is pretty good:

I bet it is!

Peanuts and Cognac/brandy > potato chips and Champagne. Peanut butter also works: put some on a spoon, eat some, wash it down with brandy. Brings out the candy, buttery, vanilla, honey flavors in the brandy. So good.