Olivier Poels 5:40 p.m., April 19, 2022
Competitor of Cognac, Armagnac can claim the title of oldest eau-de-vie in France.
Its name comes from a Frankish soldier, a certain Armin or Herman, who distinguished himself during the battle of Vouillé, in 507, against the Visigoths.
Clovis, as a reward, offers him a small county in the West of France, which is baptized Arminus in Latin then Arminhac in Gascon... and will become Armagnac.
There, the vine has been present since Roman times, but the first traces of eau-de-vie date back to the 11th century: a fire water, used for medicinal purposes to which 40 virtues are attributed.
At the time, production took place almost exclusively in monasteries.
It has been found in markets since the 15th century.
As for Cognac, it was the Dutch who were at the origin of its rise.
They buy distilled alcohol to strengthen the wines that are sold in Northern Europe.
However, we have to wait until the 18th century for Armagnac to take on the form we know today and note that, unlike Cognac, Armagnac is usually vintage.