Yet it is not just well-sourced, very old single-estate offerings that set Darroze apart. Younger Armagnacs – from both the turn of the century and into the early 2000s – carry a vibrant, fruit-forward exuberance, showing that brandy can excel in more recent vintages and that extreme age can often dampen the grape-forward notes of this delicate spirit.

Marc Darroze’s philosophy is steeped in respect for the land and its traditions. His approach to selection is almost curatorial, working directly with small producers to identify barrels that express the quintessence of Armagnac. Some are robust and rustic; others, refined and delicate. Yet all remain undeniably, unforgettably Gascon.

It is Marc who composes the Grands Assemblages, too. Choosing to blend together mature Armagnacs into a range of aged expressions, starting at eight years old, through to 12, 20, 30 and all the way to 60 years old. These blended bottlings offer a more consistent balance to the curated casks of the house’s much lauded Unique Collection vintage range. In 2024, a small-batch range of blended Armagnac was launched under the name L’Unique Assemblage, a nod to the company’s two flagship ranges of Unique Collection and Les Grands Assemblages, all designed to celebrate key dates in the 50-year history of Darroze Armagnac.

For those accustomed to the glossy uniformity of big-brand spirits, Darroze is a revelation. There’s no chasing of trends or attempts at mass appeal. Instead, there’s a celebration of imperfections and idiosyncrasies. And perhaps that’s why Darroze Armagnacs resonate so deeply. Each sip tells a tale not just of grapes and barrels but of Gascony’s rolling hills, its sun-dappled vineyards and the hands that have tended the vines there for generations. It’s a taste of time itself, bottled and ready to be savoured.