What the XO statement on an armagnac label guarantees
XO stands for "extra old". According to the Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l'Armagnac, an XO armagnac is a blend in which the youngest brandy has spent at least 10 years in oak casks. The statement therefore indicates a minimum age, never an average: in most of the bottles in our selection, the armagnacs in the blend are much older than this threshold.
This rule applies to every AOC armagnac, whatever the production area: Bas-Armagnac, Ténarèze or Haut-Armagnac. Distillation starts from white wines, most often made from the ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard grape varieties. The time an armagnac spends in oak then gives it its amber colour, its oaky notes and its roundness. Finally, the cellar master composes the blend by tasting cask by cask, in search of the balance that defines each estate.
XO, hors d'âge, 20, 25 or 30 year old armagnac: finding your way
These terms look alike, but they do not mean quite the same thing:
- XO: the youngest brandy in the blend is at least 10 years old;
- Hors d'âge armagnac: the same legal minimum of 10 years, often with a higher average age, depending on each house's choice;
- Age statement (12, 20, 25, 30 years...): the age on the label is that of the youngest armagnac in the bottle. A 20 year old is therefore an XO, with more precise information;
- VSOP: at least 4 years. Younger and fruitier, it makes a lovely aperitif or cocktail base. See our VSOP armagnacs.
The difference between an XO and a VSOP is therefore the time spent in cask: at least six years more, which makes XO rounder and much richer aromatically. Not to be confused with a vintage, which comes from a single harvest: our vintage armagnacs are presented on a dedicated page.
Our XO and hors d'âge armagnacs, house by house
Delord and Dartigalongue, the large formats
At Delord, in Lannepax, you will find the XO Premium, L'Authentique, the Création N°14 and a hors d'âge available in bottle, magnum and 250 cl pot gascon, as well as 20 and 25 year olds. Dartigalongue, a house founded in 1838 in Nogaro, offers its XO Signature, its Héritage 20 year old and its Prestige 30 year old in the same three sizes, plus the Diva and Yogi decanters and the Cuvée Louis-Philippe.
Castarède, Clés des Ducs and Baron de Sigognac
Castarède brings together an XO, a hors d'âge, a 20 year old XO decanter, the Cuvée Cigare 25 year old, the Réserve de la Famille and the Favorite decanter. Clés des Ducs offers a complete range: XO, XO Extra, XO in a decanter, 12, 18 and 21 year olds, and the Trilogie. Baron de Sigognac offers the XO Platinium and two decanters, 25 and 50 years old.
The Bas-Armagnac estates
Château de Millet's hors d'âge blends armagnacs aged for 15 to 25 years in cask. The Laubade estate makes its 12 year old Intemporel, Domaine de Laballe its Rich 12 year old and Gold 21 year old blends in 50 cl, the latter with notes of tobacco and cocoa, and the Maniban estate its XO. Jean Cavé offers a 20 year old and a Prestige XO, and the house of Vasconia the Damblat XO in a decanter, from Bas-Armagnac and Ténarèze.
How to choose an XO armagnac
- For a first discovery: a blended XO or a 12 year old, round and generous, which shows the estate's style well;
- For a connoisseur: a 20, 25 or 30 year old, more complex, with rancio notes, to be savoured slowly;
- For more intensity: check the strength. Most XOs are at 40%, while some cuvées such as Castarède's more intense Réserve de la Famille reach 47%;
- For entertaining: a magnum or a 250 cl pot gascon, for a celebratory meal.
XO armagnac aromas and tasting
On the nose, an XO develops notes of candied fruit, prunes, vanilla, caramel and sweet spices; some, such as Dartigalongue's Yogi decanter, add floral aromas of white flowers. With age come cocoa, leather and rancio. On the palate it is broad and round, with a long finish and great elegance. Serve it at room temperature, in a tulip glass rather than a balloon glass, as it concentrates the aromas better. Let it breathe for a few minutes before tasting an XO armagnac, in small sips: the palate gets used to the alcohol and the aromas open up.
It is above all a digestif. The armagnac trade body also suggests pairing it with a fruit dessert, such as tarte tatin or poached pears, or with dark chocolate, and it goes very well with a cigar at the end of the evening.
Giving an XO armagnac
XO is a safe choice for a gift, and each house puts a little of its history into it. Several bottles come in a gift box or a decanter: the Delord two-glass gift box with the 20 year old, Dartigalongue's Yogi decanter, the Clés des Ducs XO decanter or Castarède's Favorite decanter. To mark a specific year, a vintage remains the most meaningful choice; for a connoisseur's gift, a 20 or 30 year old never disappoints.
Frequently asked questions about XO armagnac
What is XO armagnac?
It is an armagnac whose youngest brandy has been aged for at least 10 years in oak casks. XO stands for "extra old".
What is the difference between XO and hors d'âge?
The legal minimum is the same: 10 years. Each house or estate uses one term or the other, sometimes both, depending on its range; the age statement (20 years, 25 years) remains the most precise indication.
Which grape varieties are used for XO armagnac?
The same as for any AOC armagnac: mainly ugni blanc, baco, folle blanche and colombard, which each estate distils and then blends in its own way.
Where can I buy XO armagnac?
Right here on this page: choose your bottle, add it to your basket and pay securely. We ship across France and Europe, in packaging designed for spirits. Torn between two bottles? Our team will be happy to advise you.
Please enjoy responsibly. Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to health.
Jean Cavé
113 bottles
Armagnac Delord
92 bottles
Château de Millet
79 bottles
Dartigalongue
76 bottles
Baron de Sigognac
69 bottles
Armagnac Castarède
63 bottles
Clés des Ducs
48 bottles
Château de Laubade
43 bottles
Domaine de Pellehaut
28 bottles
Château de Bordeneuve
17 bottles
Charles de Granville
13 bottles
Roger Groult
7 bottles
