Maison Darroze, one of the leading luxury Armagnac houses, is introducing three new spirits to the UK market this autumn, exclusively available through drinks distributor Speciality Brands.
BLANCHE ARMAGNAC AOC: Darroze Blanche d’Armagnac Folle Blanche
The reputation of the Darroze brand was built on high-quality vintage Armagnacs, in a category where maturation, oak selection and the craftsmanship of the cooper and cellar master should be a sign of excellence. New to the UK range is Darroze Blanche d’Armagnac Folle Blanche, an unaged Armagnac made from 100% Folle Blanche grapes. It is aimed at bartenders to encourage them to experiment with the French spirit. Designed to be an alternative to white spirits it can rival gin or vodka, providing a new flavourful twist to classic cocktails such as the Martini.
Darroze Blanche d’Armagnac Folle Blanche shows purity and elegance. It has a distinct and intense aroma, with notes of grapefruit, plum, and fresh grape, building to spicy Sichuan pepper. On the palate, it presents notes of fresh pineapple, plum, and a subtle vegetal quality.
BAPT & CLEM’S RUM RANGE
Venturing outside of its traditional category, Darroze has created a range of spirits – predominantly rums – entitled Bapt and Clem’s Unusual Spirits Collection, affectionately named after Marc’s sons Baptiste and Clement. Marc’s quest for excellence in Armagnac has led him all over the world, meeting a number of iconic producers and distillers, inspiring him to create rums that celebrates the discoveries made along his travels.
Joining the Speciality Brands portfolio from this range are a 4-year-old rum from Trinidad & Tobago and a 5-year-old rum from El Salvador.
Bapt & Clem’s Traditional Rum Trinidad & Tobago 4YO is a natural and unsweetened molasses rum, distilled at the Angostura distillery. After several years spent ageing in Trinidad, this rum finishes its ageing in Gascony, in a combination of casks that previously held Sauternes, Fino, Oloroso, and Manzanilla wines. The nose features dried fruit, beeswax, and mild pepper spices that transfer to the palate, along with a hint of balsamic, all carried in a smooth and round mouthfeel.
The second Darroze rum offering joining the portfolio, Bapt & Clem’s Traditional Rum El Salvador 5YO ages for three years in American bourbon casks in El Salvador, before an additional two years in the same wine and sherry casks as its Trinidadian counterpart. The result is a beautiful golden liquid with aromas of cut herbs and dried flowers; the palate is soft with notes of pineapple, baked apples, lightly toasted bread and vanilla.
Both of the rums lend themselves well to a range of cocktails, or can be enjoyed over ice.
Darroze Folle Blanche (70cl, 49% ABV, RRP £48.60), Bapt & Clem’s Trinidad and Tobago 4YO (70cl, 47% ABV, RRP £55), and Bapt & Clem’s El Salvador (70cl, 48.5% ABV, RRP £55) will be available across all channels from October 2023.
