Armagnac 1945

A 1945 armagnac, a date that speaks to everyone

Some years need no explanation. 1945 is one of them: in many families, it is the year of a homecoming, a birth, a long-awaited wedding. A 1945 vintage makes it possible to give that date just as it is, in a bottle. The label does not cheat: a vintage armagnac contains only the harvest of the year shown, unlike a VSOP, an XO or a hors d'âge, which blend several ages to maintain a style.

Still, a house had to keep this brandy for more than eighty years. That is why supply remains very limited, and why every 1945 bottle that reaches us has its own story.

1945, the year peace returned

On 8 May 1945, Germany surrendered and the war ended in Europe (source: Wikipedia, article "Seconde Guerre mondiale"). The same year, French women voted for the first time, in the municipal elections in April (source: Wikipedia, article "Droit de vote des femmes en France"), and the ordinances of October 1945 created the Sécurité sociale (source: Wikipedia, article "Sécurité sociale en France"). In the autumn, in Gascony, the vines were harvested as every year. We have no producer account of the quality of this harvest, so we let the bottles speak for themselves.

Our two 1945 armagnacs

• Baron de Sigognac: a 1945 at 40% ABV, from ugni blanc and baco, kept at Château de Bordeneuve, in Castelnau d'Auzan. The Guasch family ages each year separately there and keeps vintages dating back to 1893. The house does not publish tasting notes for this 1945, and we do not invent any;
• Jean Cavé: a 1945 presented as brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced), that is, bottled without being reduced with water, drawn from the old vintages of this Lannepax house, distillers and cellar masters since 1883. The label bears the words Bas-Armagnac AOP, the brandy has never been blended, and the bottle is delivered in a wooden box.

The exact strength of the Jean Cavé is shown on the label; if the brut de fût style appeals to you, also see our brut de fût armagnacs, a style that keeps the full strength of the spirit.

Two Bas-Armagnac houses

Our two 1945s come from Bas-Armagnac, the western part of the appellation, with its tawny sand soils, renowned for fine and fruity brandies. The appellation has two other terroirs, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. In Lannepax, the Cavé family, four generations of distillers, has built up one of the finest reserves of old vintages in the region. Near Eauze, Château de Bordeneuve produces the Baron de Sigognac armagnacs in small quantities, from ugni blanc and baco. Same year, same terroir, but two cellars and two stories.

For more recent vintages, other estates in the South West complete our range: Château de Laubade, Château de Millet, Dartigalongue, Delord or Domaine de Pellehaut, in Ténarèze.

How a vintage armagnac is made

The white wine made from the appellation's grape varieties, ugni blanc, baco blanc, folle blanche or colombard, each variety bringing its own note, is distilled continuously in the armagnac still during the winter after the harvest. A single pass is enough, whereas cognac is distilled twice: this gives armagnac a more rustic and more aromatic character. The colourless brandy then goes to age in oak casks, in the cellar. The wood gives it its amber colour, its tannins and its aromas of vanilla and dried fruit; a small share of the alcohol evaporates each year. All the ageing happens in wood: in the bottle, armagnac remains stable. No blending either for a vintage: the 1945 remains the wine of its harvest alone.

Tasting a 1945 armagnac

After so many years in oak, an armagnac often takes on a mahogany colour and a deep nose. In very old armagnacs, you frequently find prune, candied fruit, vanilla, cocoa and sweet spices, sometimes with the note of rancio that marks long ageing. Complexity and finesse reveal themselves slowly.

Pour a little, at room temperature, into a tulip glass. Let it breathe for a few minutes, warm the glass in the palm of your hand, then taste in very small sips, at the end of a meal. A moment like this is to be shared rather than rushed.

A gift for an 81st birthday

In 2026, those born in 1945 celebrate their 81st birthday. Giving them an armagnac from their year means giving them a brandy that has lived through the same years as they have. For a vintage collector, a 1945 naturally finds its place alongside a 1946 armagnac or a 1936 armagnac.

Keep the bottle upright, in a cool, dark place: unopened, it keeps indefinitely; once opened, it stays enjoyable for several months.

Frequently asked questions about 1945 armagnac

How much does a 1945 armagnac cost?

It depends on the house, the strength and the rarity of the lot. The price, the bottle size and the producer are shown on each product page on this page.

Where can I buy 1945 armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, an online wine and spirits shop dedicated to vintages: our bottles come from the Gascon houses, ordering and payment are secure, and shipping is handled with care, in France and across Europe. Our customer service is always available to advise you.

Which producers make 1945 armagnac?

Several houses have kept 1945s; with us, you will find Baron de Sigognac and Jean Cavé, both in Bas-Armagnac.

What is the history of the 1945 armagnac?

It is the story of a harvest picked in the year the war ended in Europe, distilled in the armagnac still and then patiently aged in cask by families who knew how to keep it.

Discover our full range of vintage armagnacs, year by year.

Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.