My Wandering Eye is an ongoing seriess reacting to the rising prices in the bourbon world. We’ve reached a place where even average products have hit the range where they compete price-wise with other types of aged spirits. If I’m going be asked to drop $40 to $70 on a mid-range bourbon, I might as well see what else I can get for that money. My hope is to see if another spirits category offers something that is downright tasty in that price range. The goal isn’t to find cheap spirits, but to maximize the quality, I’m getting at a particular price point. And one thing to remember is that these reviews will all be written from the perspective of a bourbon drinker.
A few years back I turned 40. To celebrate such a milestone, I thought that a spirit that was distilled in my year of birth would be a fun way to go. And I was right, it was delicious. I loved it. And so when I was doing a little holiday gift shopping this year, I noticed that the same brand had a “gift set” of 200 mL bottles that ranged from about 20 to about 40 years old. I was very intrigued. So much so that I took a photo, texted my wife and said “if I get enough from tips and gifts this Christmas, I’m buying this as a present to myself.” Luckily my family and clients were nice to me this year and I was able to do so.
Chateau de Laubade Vintage Collection
Purchase Info: $199.99 for five 200 mL bottles at Total Wine, Burnsville, MN
Details: Distilled in the year on the label. Bottled in June 2019. 40% ABV.
Price per Drink (50mL): $10
Bas Armagnac Laubade 2000
Nose: Oak, cinnamon, nutmeg, dried fruit
Mouth: Follows the nose with oak, nutmeg, cinnamon, and dried fruit.
Finish: Medium length and warmth. Lingering baking spice notes that fade to reveal dried fruit.
Thoughts: This is really good. If the others are as good, this is going to be a very nice Christmas present.
Bas Armagnac Laubade 1998
Nose: Dried fruit, brown sugar, hints of BBQ smoke
Mouth: Dried fruit, brown sugar, baking spice
Finish: Fairly gentle with lingering dried fruit and an oak "twang"
Thoughts: Proving once again that age is just a number, this is much more fruit-forward than its younger brother. As such, I like the 2000 edition better.
Bas Armagnac Laubade 1995
Nose: This is a toffee bomb. under that are dried fruit, anise and hints of mint
Mouth: Surprisingly, there is no toffee on the mouth. Instead, this is herbal and almost savory. I'm getting anise, oregano, clove, mint, and dried fruit.
Finish: Warm and herbal with lingering clove, anise and dried fruit notes.
Thoughts: This is very herbal and I really like it. This has the warmest finish of the group so far.
Bas Armagnac Laubade 1988
Nose: Pipe tobacco, brown sugar, dried cherries, leather
Mouth: Cinnamon, dark chocolate, oak, dried fruit
Finish: Gentle but the flavors linger a long time. Notes of cinnamon, cocoa powder, oak, and dried fruit.
Thoughts: This is the first in the set where the barrel really starts to take over the flavor profile. The dark chocolatey notes mix with the cinnamon and dried fruit to make this a very dessert-like drink. I really like it.
Bas Armagnac Laubade 1979
Nose: Dry oak, almond, mint, and cherry
Mouth: Cherry, oak, almond, cinnamon, and citrus
Finish: Fairly gentle with lingering notes of cinnamon and cherry.
Thoughts: This one is a bit of a let down after the last one. This one trends back toward the fruit influence in the flavor. It is still very good, but I think the 1988 is more in line with my tastes.
Rankings
My Ranking: 1988, 1979, 1995, 2000, 1998
Robin’s Ranking: 1988, 1995, 1979, 1998, 2000
Final Thoughts
I had a lot of fun with this one. Was it a good value? Well, no. Not if you just look at the price of the components. I mean this is $200 for one liter of brandy. And the oldest 200 ml in there would sell for about $200 for a 750 ml, the second oldest going for $120 and the youngest ones are all $80 or under. So no, it really isn’t a good value on the face of it.
But a fun experience is worth some money. I’ve often wished that Four Roses would offer a collection of 50mL bottles from each of their 10 recipes for sale in the gift shop. Comparing all 10 side by side is a super fun experience. I know, I did a series of posts on it back in 2014. So, if you look at how much I enjoyed the experience of tasting these brandies side by side, then this gift set certainly is a good value. I would never be able to afford a full bottle of each to do the comparison so I think I’m happy to pay the premium for the experience. Especially since I either liked or loved every one in there.
Plus, I bought it with gift money. I’m supposed to buy myself something I wouldn’t have otherwise, right?
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