Armagnac vs. Cognac: Unique distillation processes and variety of aromas
The first big difference to Cognac is the distillation process. Like with Bourbon from the USA, "column alembics" are used. Unlike Cognac, Armagnac is not distilled in copper alembics. Explaining the difference between the two stills here would go beyond the scope of this article. Google will certainly help you.
The biggest difference between Cognac and Armagnac is the fact that Armagnac is only distilled once. The single distillation produces brandies with a wider range of aromas than is known from Cognac. This is why Armagnac is better suited for an introduction to the world of French brandies. Whisk(e)y fans who want to (and should) try our neighbors' brandies will feel more comfortable with Armagnac to start with.
Armagnac uses the same age designation as Cognac, i.e. VS, VSOP and XO. And – our bottlers make every effort to label the products with the vintage.