HISTORY Château de Laubade was built in 1870 in the heart of the noblest area of the AOC Bas Armagnac and is today the premier Armagnac property. Today, the third generation is actively involved in the quest of excellence of the property, composed of 105 hectares of single vineyard, to make Château de Laubade an undisputed reference among the Armagnac category. VINEYARD 105 hectares of single vineyard in Bas Armagnac. Four traditional grape varieties: Ugni-Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard and Baco (the most emblematic). Sustainable agriculture: organic manure is produced by 600 ewes. STRENGTHS OF LAUBADE Grapes exclusively coming from the property and from a single year ‘Home-made’ and single distillation, grape variety. "Home-made" and single distillation, grape variety by grape variety. The only Armagnac House coopering its own casks, from Gascony oak, to ensure the finest maturing process. Complete traceability of the eaux-de-vie. The blend differs from a year to another. A unique range selection of Vintages that are older than 50 years. Stored in « dames-jeannes » that guarantee a slow and highly controlled evolution. The oldest “Collection vintages” rest in a unique ageing cellar called « Le Paradis » (Paradise in French).

HISTORY Château de Laubade was built in 1870 in the heart of the noblest area of the AOC Bas Armagnac and is today the premier Armagnac property. Today, the third generation is actively involved in the quest of excellence of the property, composed of 105 hectares of single vineyard, to make Château de Laubade an undisputed reference among the Armagnac category. VINEYARD 105 hectares of single vineyard in Bas Armagnac. Four traditional grape varieties: Ugni-Blanc, Folle Blanche, Colombard and Baco (the most emblematic). Sustainable agriculture: organic manure is produced by 600 ewes. STRENGTHS OF LAUBADE Grapes exclusively coming from the property and from a single year ‘Home-made’ and single distillation, grape variety. "Home-made" and single distillation, grape variety by grape variety. The only Armagnac House coopering its own casks, from Gascony oak, to ensure the finest maturing process. Complete traceability of the eaux-de-vie. The blend differs from a year to another. A unique range selection of Vintages that are older than 50 years. Stored in « dames-jeannes » that guarantee a slow and highly controlled evolution. The oldest “Collection vintages” rest in a unique ageing cellar called « Le Paradis » (Paradise in French).

50% ABV. Inspired by Luke Jacques’s mild obsession with Tiki cocktails and questionable lounge music, here we have the second release of the sublime Animus Ananas Gin. And what an epic it is. As you might expect, fresh pineapple accounts for the lion's share of the botanical load, with ginger, turmeric and galangal brought in for a spicy counterpoint to the fruit's sweet aromatics. For complexity there’s kaffir lime, pineapple sage, lemon verbena, lemon myrtle and lemon balm—all picked and prepared on the day of production—and ground sesame seeds to enhance the Gin’s oily, textural mouthfeel. The first release under Animus' Test Pressings label lasted not much longer that the time taken to listen to one of Luke Jacques' infamous lounge LPs. The tiny run of pineapple-infused Gin proved to be as popular in the market as it was back home in the Kyneton distillery and bar, and so this year the Animus team has gone to town. For the encore they’ve both refined the recipe and given us a little more Ananas Gin to play with. Far from being a case of 'second album syndrome', the intensity and quality of the spirit has also followed suit. So, what has changed? This year’s version has had a full 12 months steeping and maturing, with the fresh pineapple rotated more frequently, conferring greater vibrancy while keeping the flavours cleaner and spicier. Test Pressing maestro, distiller Sarah Wallace has also steeped the pineapple rinds for longer to enhance the intensity, and by dialling the ABV to 50% (from 44.8 %), Animus has put their trademark mouthfeel front and centre as well as anchoring those key citrus notes. And finally in its gradual move to becoming part of the core range, they’ve line-priced Ananas with the other 500ml offerings.

Aged, as Albert Tesseron puts it, “for one generation” (meaning 25-plus years) the Extra Légende was created from a blend of Tesseron Grande Champagne reserve wines. Its deep complexity was built around the inclusion of around 50 eaux-de-vie (including a number made from the Folle Blanche variety, a rarity in Cognac today) and its maturation in cellars of different humidity levels.

The Yamazaki Distillery is Japan’s first and oldest malt whisky distillery founded in 1923 by Suntory's founder Shinjiro Torii. Yamazaki is not only the soul place of Suntory Whisky but the birthplace of Japanese Whisky. Inspired by traditional Scottish whisky, it is said that Torii selected the land of Yamazaki at the foot of Mt. Tennozan, for its high-quality water source and natural environment ideal for whisky making. <br> <br> Yamazaki was born from the surprising, delicate yet profound experience of a Japanese single malt whisky. Multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara aromas, Yamazaki whiskies are complex and deep. Made at Yamazaki Distillery, the birthplace of Japanese whisky, its signature multi-layered taste is highly praised by whisky connoisseurs all over the world. The House of Suntory honors the birthplace of Japanese whisky, capturing and celebrating the pioneering roots of one of the world’s greatest whiskies from the place Shinjiro Torii chose to begin the illustrious journey of Japanese whisky. Fifth generation Chief Blender Shinji Fukuyo has returned to the roots of what made Yamazaki Single Malt quintessentially Yamazaki: deep, complex and multi-layered with fruit and Mizunara notes. <br> <br> The Yamazaki Single Malt Japanese Whisky 12 Years Old is pure gold in color. The nose hints scents of peach, pineapple, grapefruit, clove, candied orange, vanilla, and Mizunara (Japanese Oak). On the palate is coconut, cranberry and butter. This whiskey has a beautiful finish of sweet ginger, and cinnamon.

Tasting Notes: Nose: Touch of Almond, Bourbon Vanilla, Honey, White Pepper, and Jasmin. Palate: Powerful attack with volume and a lot of intensity. Finish: Soft and persistent ending. Notes of Licorice, Nuts and subtle notes of cloves.