With over half of the blend for this superstar aged spirit over 30, it's no wonder this gloriously rich Armagnac is such a delight. it tastes of wood smoke, spice, caramel and dried fruits, with this luscious caramel finish that offsets the warmth with extra flavour. Sure, after dinner, spirits like this feel a bit old school, but wow - the length and intensity here are just wonderful!

Run by eighth-generation grapegrower and distiller Cyril Laudet and his wife Julie, Château Laballe represents the modern face of one of France's oldest spirits. What sets Armagnac apart from whisky (as an example of another spirit) is that it all starts with grapes in the vineyard. Château Laballe have its own vineyards (and makes excellent table wines), and has now shifted production to farm biodynamically, helping lift the quality of wines and Armagnac. But tradition still rules here, starting with the cart-mounted, wood-fired copper still that has been in operation since 1923. Famously, the temperature varies a lot during the distillation in this old still, which gives an extra layer of complexity to the Argmagnac, as opposed to , imparting extra character to the Armagnacs. The spirits then age in 'Chêne Noir Gascon', the 410-litre barrels made of oak from the nearby Landes Forest. Combine this tradition with a little modern attention to cleanliness and wine hygiene, and is it any wonder these magnificent spirits are so highly revered?