Castarde Rserve de la Famille is a Bas-Armagnac aged a minimum of 20 years in Monlezun oak from Maison Castarde, founded in 1832 and recognized as the oldest Armagnac trading house in the world.

Maison Castarde was founded in southwest France during the reign of Napoleon III, when Armagnac was widely believed to have therapeutic benefits. Six generations on, Florence Castarde continues the family legacy. The Rserve de la Famille is distilled from three grapes Ugni Blanc, Colombard, and Folle Blanche reflecting Armagnac’s broader varietal palette compared with cognac. After distillation it is aged at least 20 years in hand-coopered Monlezun oak, a tightly grained, tannin-rich wood ideal for slow maturation. The casks rest in the family’s two cellars, one over a century old on the banks of the Base River. Each cask is brought to proof and bottled by hand.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Ripe fruit, chewy leather, and cinnamon
• Palate: Roasted coffee, butterscotch, vanilla, and honey over a creamy base
• Finish: Long and sweet with a hint of caramel and dried orange peel

Specs

• Producer: Maison Castarde, Bas-Armagnac, France (est. 1832)
• Style: Bas-Armagnac
• Grapes: Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Folle Blanche
• Aging: Minimum 20 years in Monlezun oak
• ABV: 40% (80 Proof)
• Size: 750mL

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What is the difference between Armagnac and cognac? Both are French grape brandies, but Armagnac comes from Gascony, often uses a wider range of grapes, and is traditionally column-distilled in a single pass for a more rustic, full character.
• What is Monlezun oak? A tightly grained, tannin-rich French oak traditional to Armagnac, well suited to long, slow maturation.
• How should I serve it? Best enjoyed neat as a digestif, like a fine aged brandy.

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