and just to the south of Cognac, in Gascony, is Armagnac. There you'll find true artisans making brandies of far superior quality on a much smaller scale. And it costs less. What is Armagnac?

When perusing the drinks menu at a high-end bar or restaurant, you may be perplexed once you reach the brandy section. Brandy, Cognac, Applejack, Pisco, Calvados... what's the difference?

If you think armagnac is cognac’s poor relation, think again. Far from being a déclassé version of cognac, it is France’s ...