There is a lot to like about Bardstown 2022 Château de Laubade Armagnac Cask Finish on paper. At 53.5% ABV, 107 proof and $160, let us see if it lives up to expectations.
Nose
From the beginning, the nose is instantly hit with Armagnac. After moments of waiting to let the Armagnac settle, pink peppercorn and freshly crushed cinnamon stick add a layer of spice. Lemon oil wafts throughout the dram for brightness. Overripe pear is pungent, but toward the end, it becomes more woody and musky like wet cedar.
Palate
While the whiskey is great to sip, the Chateau Laubade Armagnac finish is a little overwhelming. It doesn’t taste like bourbon, it mostly tastes like Armagnac. If you are an Armagnac fan, the Bardstown Bourbon Company collaboration is for you, but if you prefer the finishing casks to mildly influence your whiskey, then you can skip it. It is worth trying, but I would buy a bottle of Armagnac outright.
Finish
53.5% ABV, 107 proof. Blended straight bourbon whiskeys finished in Château de Laubade Armagnac casks. 750ml. $160. There is a lot going on with this dram! It is spicy with pink peppercorns but also mulling spices like cinnamon, clove, and allspice. Cedar makes the dram feel dry, especially with all the spices. However, I do get a metal key taste near the end and it just zaps my mouth. Overall, the whiskey reminds me of rum raisin cake. Straw and cornstarch are brought out on the finish. Editor’s Note: This whiskey was either bought as a sample by Whiskeyful or provided to us as a review sample by the party behind it. Per our editorial policies, this in no way influenced the outcome of this review.
The Bottom Line
Bardstown 2022 Château de Laubade Armagnac Cask Finish is a perfectly respectable whiskey that does what it sets out to do. At $160, the value is reasonable — it will not blow your mind, but it will not disappoint you either. A reliable choice.
