VS, VSOP, XO, Hors d'Âge, vintage, cask strength (brut de fût), blanche: an armagnac label says a great deal, provided you know how to read it. These initials are not marketing slogans. They are ageing mentions, each referring to a minimum time spent in oak casks, monitored by the interprofession, and to labelling rules set by the AOC. Here is their definition, one by one, followed by a line-by-line reading of a label.
Why letters appear on armagnac bottles
The acronyms VS, VSOP and XO come from Anglo-Saxon commercial tradition, hence their English names. They form a classification by age category. One essential rule, as the interprofession makes clear: the mention always refers to the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend, never to an average. A VSOP therefore contains eaux-de-vie of at least 4 years, and often older ones as well.
To guarantee these durations, each batch is tracked using an age count, in accordance with the decree of 14 March 2007 on storage and ageing controls. The eau-de-vie is at Compte 00 from distillation until the following 31 March, moves to Compte 0 when placed in cask from 1 April onwards, then advances by one count each 1 April. A blend of eaux-de-vie is classified according to its most recent component. The Bureau national interprofessionnel de l'Armagnac oversees this tracking, and certificates may be issued, particularly for export.
VS or three stars: the youngest
VS stands for Very Special. The three-star (***), also known as VS, is the youngest category of armagnac: according to the interprofession, it is produced from eaux-de-vie aged for a minimum of 1 year in cask. It is a fruity and warming armagnac, full of character, with cooked fruit notes to the fore. The interprofession recommends enjoying it neat or over ice, and using it in cooking or cocktails. Discover our VS and three-star armagnacs.
VSOP: meaning and character
VSOP stands for Very Superior Old Pale. The interprofession notes that the form Very Special Old Pale, sometimes used, is not the correct designation. French regulations require that a VSOP armagnac be assembled from eaux-de-vie of which the most recent has at least 4 years of ageing in cask. In practice, producers often include older eaux-de-vie, resulting in a richer and more complex palette.
VSOP strikes a balance between aromas of cooked, sometimes candied fruit and mellow woody, spiced notes, with a fine length already present. It is an excellent introduction to armagnac tasting, which the interprofession regards as outstanding value for money, and a good choice over ice or in cocktails. At the table, try it with pan-fried foie gras or a blue-veined cheese. See our VSOP selection.
XO and Hors d'Âge: at least 10 years
XO stands for Extra Old. According to the interprofession, an XO armagnac brings together eaux-de-vie with at least 10 years of ageing. For Hors d'Âge, the interprofession states that more than 10 years is the legal minimum for the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend, and that the average is always beyond that. Both designations therefore indicate armagnacs of at least 10 years; the difference lies in the producer's choice, not in a separate threshold.
Here one finds the aromatic heart of armagnac: candied fruit, prune, apricot, orange peel, mellow wood, sometimes pastry and spice notes, and that rancio which is the hallmark of maturity. The aromatic profile gains in complexity and persistence. This is an armagnac for after dinner, for fruit or chocolate desserts, for moments to be savoured with others. Explore our XO and Hors d'Âge range.
Stated ages and vintage
Some bottles display a number of years in plain figures: 10 years, 15 years, 20 years, 30 years. Here again, the figure corresponds to the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend.
A vintage is an altogether different matter. It refers exclusively to the harvest year of the grapes shown on the label, and the 2007 decree requires that the eau-de-vie must not have been blended with those of any other year. The interprofession presents this as a distinctive feature of armagnac. Since armagnac no longer evolves once bottled, two bottles from the same harvest may have spent very different lengths of time in cask: where it is known, the bottling date tells you exactly how many years the eau-de-vie truly aged. Browse our vintage armagnacs, year by year.
Cask strength: what the mention means
The mention “cask strength” (brut de fût) is not defined by the AOC's specifications. It indicates that the producer has not reduced the eau-de-vie with water before bottling. The cellar master adjusts the strength, where necessary, by adding water; the interprofession notes that for vintages this reduction is not always carried out: when the cellar is humid, the eaux-de-vie are sold at their natural ageing strength, generally between 40 and 48% vol. Domaine de Pellehaut, for example, offers several years in cask strength. See all our cask-strength armagnacs.
Blanche Armagnac: unaged
Blanche Armagnac has been recognised within the AOC since 2005. The eau-de-vie rests for at least three months in an inert vessel, carries no colour and retains aromas of fresh fruit or flowers. It is bottled at a minimum of 40% vol., and each batch is checked before it goes to market. Also worth exploring: our blanche armagnac.
Reading an armagnac label, line by line
- The appellation: “Armagnac”, accompanied by the words “appellation d'origine contrôlée” in prominently displayed type.
- The geographical denomination, if one is present: “Bas-Armagnac”, “Armagnac-Ténarèze” or “Haut-Armagnac”, within the same visual field. This indicates the region from which the grapes originate.
- The age category: VS, VSOP, XO, Hors d'Âge, or a number of years. Or a harvest year: that is a vintage.
- The alcoholic strength, at least 40% vol.; on a cask-strength bottle, this is the strength of the eau-de-vie as it left the cask.
- Sometimes a grape variety, such as folle blanche or ugni blanc, and a bottling date.
- The name of the house or domaine, which often tells you as much as anything else.
To choose, start with the occasion: a VS or VSOP for cooking and cocktails, an XO or Hors d'Âge for slow, attentive tasting, a vintage for a year that holds meaning.
Armagnac, cognac, rum: the same letters, the same rules?
Not quite. These initials appear on other French spirits, such as cognac, calvados and rum, but each category has its own minimum thresholds. For cognac, the specifications published in 2015 set a minimum ageing of 2 years for VS, 4 years for VSOP and the Réserve mention, 6 years for Napoléon, and 10 years for XO, Extra and Hors d'Âge. A cognac label may also indicate a cru, such as Grande Champagne, or Fine Champagne for a blend of Grande and Petite Champagne. VSOP and XO therefore correspond to the same minimum durations in armagnac and in cognac, but VS armagnac requires at least 1 year in cask, compared with 2 years in the Charentes. We discuss other differences, such as the double distillation used in Charentes, in our guide armagnac or cognac.
Frequently asked questions
What does XO mean on an armagnac?
XO stands for Extra Old. On an armagnac, the mention indicates that the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has at least 10 years of ageing in oak casks.
What is the difference between VS and VSOP?
The minimum duration: at least 1 year for VS, at least 4 years for VSOP. In terms of taste, according to the interprofession, VS is fruity and warming; VSOP, already showing a fine length, combines cooked fruit with mellow woody notes.
XO or Hors d'Âge: which is older?
Neither by definition: both require at least 10 years for the youngest eau-de-vie. To know the true age, look for a stated number of years or a vintage.
Does armagnac age in the bottle?
No. Once bottled, armagnac no longer evolves. Store the bottle upright, so that the spirit does not come into contact with the cork.
To place these mentions in the history and production of this Gascon spirit, read our guide what is armagnac, or browse our full armagnac selection.
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