Armagnacs meet their match

Published: 23 July, 2008

Habanos, the Cuban cigar appellation, has teamed up with AOC Armagnac to attempt to show how well they complement each other.
Some 22 Armagnacs from a dozen houses were blind tasted in Paris by spirits journalists and cigar connoisseurs. Each house was asked to present Armagnacs in two categories: XO blends and Hors d'Age; and vintage Armagnacs.

The Bureau National Interprofessionnel de l'Armagnac (BNIA) claims that an exquisite union' exists between Armagnac and Habanos cigars, each one displaying and complementing the other's aromatic prowess and magnifying strengths while working together in total harmony'.

Following the tasting, eight Armagnacs were chosen to be put forward to this year's World Cigar Festival in Havana, Cuba, which, for the past three years, has held whisky-and-cigar-matching competitions. The winning Armagnacs included Veuve Lafontan XO and Chteau du Tariquet Le Lgendaire on the blend side, and 1976 Chteau de Pellehaut and 1964 Armagnac Castarde on the vintage side.

All eight finalists will be leaving for Cuba at the end of February to compete for the Trofeo Habanos Armagnac 2006.

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