Armagnac 1960

What is a 1960 vintage armagnac?

For a vintage armagnac, the year refers to a single harvest. A 1960 armagnac therefore comes solely from grapes harvested in the autumn of 1960, made into wine and then distilled the following winter, without blending with other harvests. This is what sets it apart from a VSOP, an XO or a hors d'âge, which indicate a minimum age rather than a date.

The starting point is a dry white wine, a distilling wine made from the grape varieties of the appellation: ugni blanc, folle blanche, colombard or baco. This wine is not meant to be drunk: it is made for the still. Distillation takes place in the armagnac still, a continuous still, following the Gascon tradition. The still colourless brandy then goes into oak casks for a long maturation in the cellar. There it takes on its colour, its tannins and its aromas, while part of the alcohol evaporates over the years.

Good to know: once in the bottle, armagnac no longer evolves. The bottling date, when shown, tells you how long your 1960 stayed in wood.

1960, the year of the new franc

For the French, 1960 began with a change of currency. On 1 January 1960, coins, banknotes and stamps in new francs were put into circulation: 100 old francs became 1 new franc, a reform wanted by General de Gaulle and entrusted to Antoine Pinay and Jacques Rueff (source: Wikipedia, article "Franc français"). Meanwhile, in the vineyards of the Gers, in the heart of the South West, the wine that would give the bottles on this page was taking shape.

Our 1960 armagnacs, house by house

Four Gascon houses kept their 1960 brandies in cask before bottling them. The same harvest, but not the same estate, nor the same cellar, nor the same way of working:

• Armagnac Delord, a family house founded in 1893 in Lannepax, in Bas-Armagnac: a 1960 at 40% ABV, aged in Gascon oak casks, with a nose of undergrowth, spices and mature wood, a supple attack and very good length;
• Baron de Sigognac, at Château de Bordeneuve, in Castelnau d'Auzan: a 1960 at 40% ABV, from ugni blanc and baco, with a pale amber colour and a powerful, elegant nose of coffee and cocoa;
• Clés des Ducs, a house born in Panjas: a 1960 at 40% ABV, distilled in Panjas and never blended, for which the cellar master selects the casks to create a long, rich and smooth brandy with discreet oak;
• Jean Cavé, in Lannepax since 1883: a 1960 brut de fût (cask strength, not reduced), drawn from the house's collection of old vintages and bottled at its natural strength, without reduction.

Lovers of natural strength will find other years among our brut de fût armagnacs.

Bas-Armagnac, the terroir of our 1960s

The armagnac appellation covers three terroirs: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze and Haut-Armagnac. Our 1960s all come from Bas-Armagnac, the western part of the Gascon vineyard, where tawny sands produce fine, fruity brandies. The terroir sets the frame; then each house leaves its signature through its choice of grape varieties, the way it runs the still and how it manages ageing.

Characteristics and tasting notes of a 66 year old armagnac

More than six decades in cask produce spirits of great complexity. In our 1960 selection, the nose reveals undergrowth, typical of old armagnacs, spices, coffee, cocoa and noble wood. On the palate, the attack remains supple in the Delord, before a long finish. For the record, the Delord house still distils today on plate armagnac stills, including one dating from 1900. Each bottle nevertheless keeps its own personality: read the notes on each product page to choose yours.

Serve it at room temperature in a tulip glass, without ice. Let it breathe for a few minutes, warm the glass in your hand, then taste in small sips. As a digestif, an old armagnac goes beautifully with a square of dark chocolate, a coffee or a cigar.

Giving a 1960 armagnac for a 66th birthday

In 2026, people born in 1960 celebrate their 66th birthday, and couples married in 1960 their 66th wedding anniversary. Giving an armagnac from their year means giving a spirit that has lived through the same years as they have: a rare gift, to open on the day of the celebration or to keep for another great moment. Depending on the house, the bottle comes in a case or a gift box. Not sure which to choose? Our customer service, true wine and spirits merchants, can guide you between the styles before you buy.

Storing your 1960 armagnac properly

Keep the bottle upright, away from light and heat, so that the alcohol does not eat into the cork. Unopened, it keeps for a very long time; once opened, it keeps for several months. If the level drops a lot, finish it a little sooner to preserve its aromas.

Frequently asked questions about 1960 armagnac

How much does a 1960 armagnac cost?

It depends on the house, the strength and the type of bottling, reduced or brut de fût. Each product page on this page shows the producer, the bottle size and the price.

Where can I buy a 1960 vintage armagnac?

At Plaisirs de Gascogne, a wine and spirits merchant specialising in selling vintage armagnac online: the bottles come directly from the Gascon houses, payment is secure and delivery is handled with care, in France and across Europe.

Which grape varieties are used in the 1960 armagnac?

Depending on the house: ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard. The Baron de Sigognac 1960 combines ugni blanc and baco; the other houses do not specify the grape varieties for this vintage.

How should I taste a 1960 armagnac?

In a tulip glass, at room temperature, after a few minutes of airing, in small sips. There is no need to add ice or water.

Also discover all our vintage armagnacs, year by year, the 1959 armagnac or the 1961 armagnac. For other years, our cellar also brings together the vintages of Château de Laubade, Château de Millet, Castarède and Dartigalongue.

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