Hogsworth does something almost nobody attempts: it blends American bourbon with French Armagnac in the bottle, roughly half and half, and sells the result as a single spirit. This is not a cask finish, where whiskey borrows character from wood that once held brandy. Both spirits are actually in the glass. The bourbon comes from Tennessee and Minnesota, and the Armagnac is drawn from multiple vintages including stocks going back to 1982, which is what pushes the average age on this bottle to 9.4 years and gives the blend depth that neither component would carry alone at this price. The two spirits are genuinely different animals. Bourbon brings corn sweetness, vanilla and charred oak, direct and generous. Armagnac is grape based, distilled in Gascony, and tends toward dried fruit, old oak and a dry, almost sherried austerity. Set against each other, the Armagnac's structure cuts the bourbon's sweetness while the bourbon fills out the middle, and the result is closer to a well aged sipping spirit than to either parent. It is blended and hand bottled in Vermont at 46.9 percent alcohol by volume, 93.8 proof. Expect ribbons of caramel and spice with dried apricot, old oak and candied orange on the nose, then a mouth coating palate of baked apple, plum, raisin and roasted almond with cinnamon and a tingle of peppercorn. The finish runs long, with the Armagnac providing a refined, dry counterbalance to the corn character. Drink it neat.
ABV / Proof
| ABV |
46.9% |
| Proof |
93.8 |
| Size |
750ml |
| Country |
United States and France |
| Region |
Blended and bottled in Vermont |
| Category |
Blend of bourbon whiskey and Armagnac |
| Average Age |
9.4 years |
| Composition |
Bourbon whiskey and Armagnac, roughly equal proportions |
| Bourbon Sourcing |
Tennessee and Minnesota |
| Armagnac Sourcing |
France, multiple vintages including 1982 |
| Bottling |
Hand bottled in Vermont |
Tasting Notes
Color: Deep golden amber with oily tears down the glass.
Nose: Ribbons of caramel and spice, with dried apricot, old oak, candied orange and fresh brambleberries.
Palate: Mouth coating and chewy, with baked apple, plum and raisin over caramelised sugar, roasted almond and decadent cinnamon spice.
Finish: Long and warming, with a lingering tingle of peppercorn and warm citrus, the Armagnac lending a dry, refined counterbalance to the bourbon's corn character.
FAQ
What proof is Hogsworth? It is bottled at 93.8 proof, or 46.9 percent alcohol by volume.
Is this bourbon or brandy? Both. It is a physical blend of American bourbon whiskey and French Armagnac in roughly equal proportions, not a bourbon finished in Armagnac casks. Both spirits are in the bottle.
What is Armagnac? A grape based brandy from Gascony in southwest France, and the oldest distilled spirit in the country. It typically shows dried fruit, old oak and a dry, almost sherried character, quite different from cognac.
What does the average age mean? 9.4 years is the weighted average across both components. The Armagnac includes considerably older stocks, with vintages going back to 1982, while the bourbon is younger.
How should I drink it? Neat is where the interplay between the two spirits shows best. A large cube works if you prefer it colder, and it makes an unusual Old Fashioned.
Where can I buy Hogsworth Bourbon Whiskey & Armagnac online? Available here at Liquor On Broadway while stock lasts, with fast insured shipping nationwide.
