Featured at World Whisky Day 2015: The distillery that makes Armorik Breton Single Malt Whisky was founded by the Warenghem family in 1900. The distillery makes a variety of spirits, with the Breton Single Malt being introduced about 30 years ago. It is very much rooted in the region, hearkening back to the Celtic peoples and culture that bound Brittany to Ireland and Scotland. This commitment to tradition, while also straddling the undeniable French influence, results in a unique expression that has slowly but inexorably gained praise from many world areas and whisky writers. There are four single malt offerings so far: a double maturation, a sherry finish, an Edition Originale, and this original, their Armorik Classic.
Distillery: Warenghem
Region: Foreign
Age: NAS
Strength: 46%
Price: $51.99
Location: Lannion, France
Maturation: Sherry and bourbon casks
Nose: Viognier, floral, honeydew, honeysuckle, alcohol
Palate: Perfume, floral, coriander, passion fruit, toast, nutty, sherry
Finish: Bread, white pepper
Comments: We recommend you drink this early in a tasting sequence, as it can be influenced by stronger flavors.
Adam – I find the Armorik Classic a very interesting whisky. Unlike other red wine cask finishes, this one has the dryness of a white that I haven’t encountered very much. I enjoy how fragrant it is. It can really be called a bouquet. I like the light sweetness mixed with bright but not overpowering spice. It’s a breadbasket kind of palate, full of nature’s plenty. If you peel back the layers on this drink, you might find something the druids of ancient Brittany might have enjoyed. Ethereal, light, full of herbal effervescence and nature’s plenty. What surprises me is how fickle it is. Some malts we’ve tried work best in certain seasons; this one can be great one day and feel off the next. I’ve never encountered anything quite like it. When it works, however, it’s delightful. Good luck.
Ethereal, light, full of herbal effervescence and nature’s plenty.
Kate – This takes a lot of concentration for me. I can tell it’s French based on the wine and bread qualities of the whisky. Personally, I don’t like the flavour of wine and I’m not a big fan of wine-flavoured whisky. Perhaps someone who loves both wine and whisky would find this the best of both worlds, but it’s not for me. It’s also important to distinguish it’s different than a wine-finished whisky. It tastes different than than that. It’s like justifying a first date – I can explain the good qualities in this single malt, but it’s just not for me.
Meghan – A whiskey worth sniffing. It has a beautifully sweet nose — imagine spending a warm afternoon laying on your back watching the clouds and daydreaming in a flower-filled meadow in full bloom. The palate and finish don’t really measure up. There is a unique full sweetness in the palate reminiscent of tropical fruits and/or passion fruit. Sadly, the more times I taste the Armorik Classic, the less I like it. I loved it at first and felt the bottle would quickly vanish. But as time goes by, I’m less and less interested in even finishing my dram. Can whisky go bad that fast?
