Jan 4 2024
Discover Armenia For The Best Value In Outstanding Brandies
Armenia’s brandies represent outstanding quality and value, especially for ultra-aged expressions of 20 years or more. Here are backgrounds and tasting notes on 20 top-rated Armenian brandies.
Joseph V Micallef
A Brief History of Armenian Brandy
Armenia is a small country in the South Caucasus nestled between the Anatolian Peninsula and the Caspian Sea. Along with its northern neighbor, Georgia, the region is believed to be the birthplace of wine. Although it is likely that wine making had multiple independent centers of origin, the oldest historical evidence of winemaking, going back more than 6,000 years, is found in this region.
According to local legend, Armenians have distilled wine into brandy since the 12th century. There is little definitive evidence of this. If true, then the production of brandy in Armenia predated alcohol distillation in Spain and France by several centuries.
In the late 19th century, a thriving brandy industry developed in Armenia. Taking advantage of the popularity of Cognac in Russia, a consequence of the anti-German, Franco-Russian alliance that preceded World War I, Armenian Brandy was also labeled Kanyak, the Armenian spelling for Cognac.
For a brief time, one Armenian producer, Nikolay Shustov, official supplier of Armenian brandy to the Russian Tsar Nicholas II, had the right to label his brandy as Cognac. Shustov & Sons eventually became the Yerevan Brandy Company, Armenia’s largest brandy producer.
Brandy production is still a big business in Armenia. Yerevan, the country’s capital, boasts more brandy distillers per capita than any other city, including Cognac.
The Armenian government sold the largest Soviet-era brandy distiller, the Yerevan Brandy Company, to French spirits giant Pernod-Ricard in 1999. It’s exported to over 20 countries, and the most common brand of Armenian brandy found abroad.
The country currently produces around 20 million liters, about 5.7 million gallons, 90 percent of which is exported.
Armenian brandy production has several interesting features. It only utilizes indigenous grape varieties. Armenia has over 200 indigenous grapes, only a few of which have been studied.
Only Voskehat, Garan Dmak, Mskhali, Kangun and Rkatsiteli (a Georgian grape variety) can legally be used for brandy production. Grapes are grown widely in Armenia, with the best coming from the Ararat Valley beneath Mount Ararat in Western Armenia. Grapes also provide the alcohol base for fruit vodkas and unflavored vodkas.
Brandy is produced in Charentais stills, as in Cognac, using a double distillation process. Maturation occurs in casks made from Caucasian/Persian oak, Quercus macranthera. Caucasian oak is believed to impart flavors of dried fruit, dried herbs, vanilla, and chocolate notes. These are aroma and taste elements closely associated with Armenian brandy.
Armenia’s Top Brandy: Tasting Notes
Ararat Nairi 20 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
International Wines & Spirits Competition (IWSC), Gold; San Francisco World Spirits Competition (SFWSC), Double Gold; International Spirits Challenge (ISC), Gold; New York International Spirits Competition (NYISC), Gold; Concours Mondial de Bruxelles (CMB), Gold.
Established in 1887, the Yerevan Brandy Company is renowned worldwide for producing Armenian brandies from local grapes and unique oak casks.
The rich and flavorful brandy features dark chocolate, dried fruit, and honey flavors, with a long, complex, velvety finish.
Armenia 25 YO Brandy, Great Valley Wine & Brandy Factory
The brandy features vanilla, dried fruit, and oak notes, with a refined, elegant finish.
Ararat Dvin 15 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Double Gold SFWSC, Double Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
The brandy features cinnamon, clove spices, dark chocolate, and nutty undertones, with a long, luxurious finish.
Proshyan Brandy Factory 20 YO, Proshyan Brandy Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold.
Established in 1887, Proshyan is a historic brandy producer using unique traditional Armenian winemaking traditions.
The brandy features fruit, vanilla, and almond, with a long, warming, smooth finish.
Ararat Vaspurakan 15 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
Fig, caramel, and dark dried fruit dominate the palate, with a smooth, velvety, lingering finish.
Ararat Akhtamar 10 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
A slightly lighter style of Armenian brandy featuring caramel, apricot, and toasted oak, with a balanced, smooth finish.
Armenia 15 YO Brandy, Great Valley Wine & Brandy Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features dried apricot, oak, and vanilla, with a balanced, long-lasting finish.
Noy Classic 20 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
One of Armenia’s top brandy producers, Noy, is known for utilizing traditional Armenian methods and local oak barrels for their distinguished brandies.
The sweet brandy exhibits oak, dried fig, and spice notes and a refined, smooth finish.
Mané 18 YO Brandy, Proshyan Brandy Factory
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features caramel, dried fruit, and subtle spice, with a robust, full-bodied, and smooth finish.
Ararat Ani 7 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; NYISC, Gold, ISC, Gold.
The sweet brandy features vanilla, dried fruits, and a hint of almond, with a rich, layered finish.
Great Valley Armenian Oak 10 YO, Great Valley Wine & Brandy Factory
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold, NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features seasoned oak, honey, subtle spice, and a smooth, complex finish.
Noy Araspel 15 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold, ISC, Gold, CMB, Gold.
The brandy features hazelnut, honey, ripe fruit and a long, rich finish.
Ararat Armenia 20 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold, NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features dark chocolate, toasted almond, and caramel, with a smooth, refined finish.
Noy Tirakal 10 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features vanilla, dried fig, and soft spice with a smooth, elegant finish.
Mané 15 YO Brandy, Proshyan Brandy Factory
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features dried fruit, honey, warm spices and a rich, smooth finish.
Ararat Otborny 7 YO Brandy, Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features caramel, apricot, vanilla, and a long, balanced finish.
Noy Grand Reserve 15 YO Yerevan Brandy-Wine-Vodka Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold.
The brandy features fig, vanilla, dark chocolate, and a smooth, luxurious finish.
Ararat Armenia Select 15 YO Yerevan Brandy Company
SFWSC, Gold; IWSC, Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
The brandy features spice, oak, dark chocolate, and a complex, full-bodied finish.
Mané 20 YO Brandy, Proshyan Brandy Factory
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Gold; CMB, Gold; ISC, Gold; NYISC, Gold.
The brandy features caramel, spice, toasted oak, and a smooth, elegant finish.
Ararat Nairi Reserve 30 YO, Yerevan Brandy Company
IWSC, Gold; SFWSC, Double Gold; NYISC, Gold; ISC, Gold; CMB, Gold.
The brandy features dark chocolate, raisin, caramel, and a velvety, lingering finish.
These Armenian brandies showcase excellence in craft and aging, reflecting Armenia’s deep tradition in brandy production. They are outstanding brandies, especially the ultra-aged ones, many of which retail for under $50. You can find Armenian brandies at most specialty liquor stores. The best selection is at Glendale-based Remedy Liquor. The store caters to the large Armenian community in Glendale and stocks many ultra-aged expressions.
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