Armagnac and Cigars: Chateau de Laubade + Espinosa Blue

I picked this drink because I love to pair Armagnac and cigars but had previously only enjoyed more common ones. I really wanted to try one special so when I found that I could buy a vintage Armagnac, I was sold! This prestigious drink needed a special cigar that could stand up to its strength, flavour profile.  When another pairing member brought over the Espinosa 601 Maduro as a gift, my thoughts immediately when to the Chateau de Laubade on my top shelf.

1973 Chateau de Laubade Armagnac

This bas armagnac is entirely from a single harvest from 1973.  "Château de Laubade only releases its vintages after a minimum of 15 years of ageing in oak casks from Gascony."  This Vintage won the silver award at the World Spirits Competition in 2012, and the gold medal in 2004 at the Concours General Agricole de Paris.  Needless to say, get a bottle of their vintages and keep it on your shelf for that special day.

After removing the wax seal and uncorking the bottle, this 41 year old brandy revealed an incredible and unexpected nose. The drink smelled of figs and aged tawny port with notes of vanilla and melted butter.

Espinosa 601 Maduro

This great cigar has a beautiful dark and oily broadleaf maduro wrapper, and is full of aged Nicaraguan longfillers.  It's a medium to full bodied cigar.  The draw is easy and with tons of smoke as we've learned to expect from a box-pressed cigar.  This stick has been rated a whopping 94 and earned its place as Cigar Aficionado's #6 cigar of 2009.

This cigar has a great taste.  Organic and earthy, dark and sweet, trees, bark, lettuce leaf and a touch of coffee.  A smooth stick that's easily box-worthy.