Armorik Breton Single
Malt Whisky
The Original "Oui" Dram
History
The Armorik distillery located in Lannion, Brittany has been making high quality liqueurs and spirits for over 100 years. In 1900, Leon Warenghem founded the distillery and created his first product, the Elixir d’Armorique, a distillate of 35 plants which won awards at international exhibitions in 1902. Since then, the distillery has created a small range of unusual fruit and plant based liqueurs, honey liqueurs, apple brandy, beers and whiskies.
In 1967, Leon’s grandson Paul-Henry and his business partner, Yves Leizour moved the distillery from the town center to the outskirts of Lannion to be closer to the spring, Rest Avel.
Yves’ son, Gilles carried on the distillery’s innovative spirit, by creating a blended whisky in 1987, then in 1998, France’s first single malt whisky: Armorik. Armorik was the first and only distillery to ever produce double distilled whisky in France and today it remains the most renowned.
Today the distillery is overseen by Gilles’ son-in-law, David Roussier, keeping the Breton tradition of distilling in the family. They continue to innovate, including the recent release of the first single malt whisky finished in Armagnac casks (from the oldest Armagnac house, Dartigalongue), currently only available on the U.S. market.
Production Highlights
The environment: the soil is mostly granitic, the air is very iodized (the sea is less than 6 miles away) and the weather is as rainy and windy as in the Scottish Highlands but overall warmer, which favors the aging of the whisky. The humidity level is the same as in the Highlands.
The water: the distillery sits on a water source by the name of Rest Avel (it means the house of wind) which gives a pure and crystal clear granitic water.
The grain: Malted barley sourced from Brittany and France. Since 2015, Armorik has been working with organically sourced grains. Since 2020, all the grain used has been organic.
The distillation: double distillation in traditional copper pot stills.
The casks: Armorik is the result of a unique ageing method, using a majority of refill bourbon casks made of American white oak and some refill sherry butts made of Spanish oak.
Armorik also make use of oak casks from Brittany. Thanks to a 15-year partnership with the last cooper in Brittany, namely Jean Baptiste Le Floc’h from Douarnenez, oak is sourced from the forests of Cranou and Brocéliande. These casks provide their natural sweetness and delicate woody notes.
The aging: Armorik casks age in the unique maritime climate of Brittany’s northern coast: temperatures are mild all year round (clement winters, fresh summers) and the sky can alternate over several hours between rainy periods and brilliant sunshine. In this mild climate, the angels’ share, namely the fraction that evaporates each year, accounts for about 3% in the cellars.
Protected Geographic Designation:
In 2015, the French government granted an IGP, or protected geographic designation for Breton Whisky.
Armorik, which took a leap of faith back in 1983 and produced the first ever modern French whisky, was a leader in the movement to obtain the IGP status for Breton Whisky, a distinction in France only shared by Alsatian Whisky (awarded in the same year).
There is currently no legal definition for French whisky in general.
Preserving Breton Heritage
In 2019, the distillery was designated a Living Heritage Company. Awarded by the French government, this label recognizes French companies achieving excellence in terms of artisanal and industrial know-how.
“Our distillery is the first whisky distillery to receive this label in France. It recognizes the work of the entire team at the distillery, who work together to sustain traditional know-how while always striving for excellence.”
Classic Organic
Highlights
Cornerstone of the range, Armorik Classic brings together the best of the warehouse in a very accomplished edition. Marriage of sherry and bourbon casks of different ages, it highlights the quality of aging on the Brittany coast and the expertise of the master blender.
This Armorik Classic is presented in an un-chill filtered edition, exalting its aromas.
Aroma: light floral notes with a touch of citrus in the end
Palate: soft and honeyed, lightly spicy, all wrapped up in balanced and complex wood finish dotted with a citrus note.
Finish: lightly smokey and pleasantly peaty.
Reviews
Finalist. 94 points
"Echoing the classic malts of Speyside and Highland, the nose is at once honey-tinged with a cereal sweetness with toffee, smoke, and citrus bringing up the rear. Round, fruity, and spicy, smoke builds on the finish with a hint of cool sea breeze." (Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2017)
"Gold Medal" (San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2014)
4 stars (The Whisky Reviewer, March 2013)
"Gold Medal / Exceptional" (International Review of Spirits, BTI Chicago)
4 Stars / Highly Recommended
“...exceedingly pleasant” (Spirit Journal 2011)
“I love this whisky.” (David Wondrich, 2011)
91 points.
“Highly attractive and complex; a long, exceptionally malty finish; a fabulous whisky” (Jim Murray’s Whisky Bible 2010)
Sherry Cask Organic
Highlights
Armorik Sherry is fully matured in Oloroso Sherry casks. These casks, traditionally used in Scotch whisky, were used to make sherry wine, a cousin of Pineau des Charentes. This Armorik is therefore characterized by spicy notes and candied fruits that enhance the characteristic fruitiness of Armorik. It brings together Breton and Andalusian influences for a generous taste.
Made from organically grown French barley and distilled in traditional pot stills, it shows the desire to create an exceptional single malt that reflects the Breton character: a rich and fruity whisky, respectful of the environment.
Nose: Intense, fine and elegant, subtly marked by the sherry. The sweetness of vanilla and citrus fruits is enhanced by a touch of menthol and dried fruits.
Palate: Well-balanced, round, with notes of crème brûlée, prune and roasted almonds.
Finish: Vanilla, spices, with warm sherry notes.
Reviews
Best of Show 2nd Place, Double Gold (Global Whisky Competition, 2024)
Gold Medal (Concours General Agricole Paris, 2023)
Gold Medal (International Spirits Challenge 2021)
Double Maturation Organic
Highlights
Symbol of the distillery’s values, this Armorik Double Maturation enhances both the quality of its know-how and its commitment to the Breton “terroir.” Through a partnership with a local cooper, the distillery uses unique oak casks from the forests of Brittany. Armorik Double Maturation rests there for many years before being transferred into sherry casks for a second maturation. Reduced to 46% and non chill filtered, Armorik impresses with its elegance and complexity.
Nose: Fruity and elegant, it shows beautiful notes of citrus and apple, all served with salted butter caramel.
Palate: A fine woodiness changing rapidly to cereals, all with an unsuspected magnitude.
Finish: Hints of heather honey come to the finish supported by the cereals and enjoyable marine notes.
Reviews
Gold (Global Whisky Competition, 2024)
#6 - Top 20 Whiskies of 2018
"France has quietly been making some exciting whiskies, and keeping most to itself. Fortunately, [The Armorik] Distillery in Brittany exports a number of single malts, which it has been making for over two decades. This whisky, matured initially in local oak and finished in first-fill sherry casks, has perfumy aromas that lift up its malt-forward character. Spicy and floral, with flavors of citrus, cherry, raspberry-jam cookie, salted nuts, and savory tobacco, it is delicate with a satisfying creamy texture. This is a reformulation of the previously available Double Maturation utilizing new cask techniques advised by the late Dr. Jim Swan." 93 points (Susannah Skiver Barton, (Whisky Advocate 2018)
"Best in Show, Double GOLD" (San Francisco World Spirits Competition, 2014)
90 points. "Excellent, Highly Recommended" (Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2013)
"Best European Single Malt Whisky under 12 Years" "Best European Single Malt" (World Whiskey Awards, Whiskey Magazine, 2013)
4 stars (The Whisky Reviewer, May 2013)
10 Ans
Highlights
Limited Edition: 2000 bottles.
Twenty years ago, the Armorik Distillerie launched their first single malt. In order to celebrate this anniversary, they have decided to bottle special 10 Year Old version, the first official age statement bottling. Armorik 10 Ans was aged for ten years in bourbon and finished in sherry oloroso casks.
Tasting notes from the Director of the Armorik Distillery, David Roussier:
Color: gold and amber reflections
Nose: Powerful. Both fruity and buttery notes. Hints of caramel, apricot, camphor, and lightly woody. Very complex.
Palate: Citrus notes followed by roundness. Hints of camphor, and full of apricot, mango and maple syrup. Very long finish with a little touch of smoke, which underlines a mainly peppery and fruity finale.
Reviews
Gold Medal, 95 points
"A well-crafted single malt with a smoky, complex character. Hazelnut aromas welcome you, leading onto an explosion of tropical, peach and melon fruit flavours. Touches of coconut and sweet spice, with a long finish." (IWSC 2023)
Best French Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2022)
Finalist. 93 points.
“Although a mature spirit, the whiskey pours a light golden hue and shows an invigorating, youthful bouquet of honeyed barley, lemon peel, baked bread, and hard caramel candy. The palate transmits more cereal flavors and lacy hints of iodine.” (Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2019)
Yeun Elez
Highlights
Yeun Elez is a peated Breton Whisky, distilled from peated (50ppm) malted barley from Scotland. It has been distilled and matured to highlight its delicate, elegant and fruity peat.
The name Yeun Elez comes from an old peat bog located in the heart of the Armorique Natural Park, which is also home to many Breton legends, including that of Tadic Coz and Jobic, who rid the local towns of ghosts.
"We are entering the Yeun Elez, he said to Jobic. Whatever you hear, don’t look away. It is about your life in this world and your salvation in the next."
A.Le Braz, La Légende de la mort en Basse-Bretagne, 1893
Natural color, non-chill-filtered. 46% ABV
Nose: Beautiful aromatic intensity, the peat is medicinal (camphor, cloves) but supported by fruity notes, bananas, cooked peaches, and pastry (cream pastry).
Palate: The smoke rounds the palate, citrus notes bringing freshness. Nice roundness with a hint of salinity. A lingering, iodized and spicy finish, ending with a warm wood fire.
Reviews
“Rooted in Celtic culture, Brittany often shares deeper ties with Scotland and Ireland than France. Armorik is an embodiment of that: a scotch-style single malt that’s nevertheless expressive of the rocky peninsula where it’s made. Yeun Elez, in particular, named for a local peat bog, is smoky and saline, with spice and warm oak tones.” (Susannah Skiver Barton, The New Wine Review)
Gold Medal (Concours General Agricole Paris, 2022 & 2023)
Gold Medal (Whiskey and Barrel Consumer Choice Awards 2022)
96 points, Double Gold, World Whisky of the Year, World Whisky Producer of the Year (Bartender Spirits Awards, 2022)
Best French Single Malt (World Whiskies Awards, 2021)
Finalist! 94 points
"A punchy bouquet of smoked gooseberry and yellow apple reveal a young but balanced whisky showing some unripe banana and finishing on a smoky, almandine note, with the slightest bitterness carrying through to the next sip." (Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2021)
Limited Editions
Armagnac Finish
Highlights
The whisky was matured for 4 years in a refilled bourbon cask and spent a further 2 years in the Dartigalongue Armagnac cask. The first single malt to be finished in Armagnac casks.
Tasting notes from the Director of the Armorik Distillery, David Roussier:
Color: Copper
Nose: Nice aromatic intensity. At first some lemon notes and vanilla, followed by ripe fruits (Mirabelle plums) and elegant oaky notes. Licorice, with soft notes of pastry with almonds.
Palate: Intense aromas of citrus, followed by a nice roundness and nice volume. Elegant woodiness enhanced by peppery and fruity (peach) notes. Long and spicy finish.
Reviews
91 points, Excellent, Highly Recommended
"Bright pale gold in the glass. The nose opens with smoked golden raisins, prune and figs. Honey, cereal, sultana and more smoke come through on the palate in waves of flavor." (Ultimate Spirits Challenge 2018)
4 stars, Highly Recommended
"Entry is delicately sweet and maple-like -- the sweetness comes from an irrepressibly fruity ripeness that reminds me most of blackberry jam...in all, a well-knit flavor profile that extends into the satisfying finish as the taste turns drier, leaner, and nutty. In my view, the best Armorik I've had to date. Lovely." (Paul Pacult, Spirit Journal 2017)
"What happened when [The Armorik] Distillery’s David Roussier finished some of his famous Breton whisky for 2 years in a Dartigalongue Armagnac cask from the oldest Bas Armagnac production house? Sweet apple, pear, vanilla, lemon peel, and marzipan appear. A drink that awakens intense citrus sensations of marmalade, mixed peel, lemon and orange segments, followed by a light snap of pepper, gooseberries, nectarine flesh, and a lemony finish with hints of oak." (Jonny McCormick, Whisky Advocate, Summer 2017)
Triagoz
Highlights
Limited Edition. 2000 bottles. Natural color, non-chill-filtered.
Armorik Triagoz is a tribute to the Triagoz wild archipelago, off the Pink Granite Coast, one of the most beautiful stretches of Brittany’s coastline. The result of four years, this is the distillery’s first bottling using a touch of peat, offering the rich and fruity Armorik character and lightly peated flavor.
This peated expression of Armorik was created to celebrate the 20th anniversary of making Armorik single malt whiskies. Aged in ex-bourbon casks.
Creamy nose with notes of cooked peach and pear and a hint of thyme give way to the peaty flavors, cloves and a bit of vanilla.
Palate opens with wood fire, warm and spicy. Round, but fresh citrus notes followed by smoke and finishing with powerful notes of peat fire, pepper notes, and iodine.
Reviews
4 stars, Highly Recommended.
“I like the first sniffs that discover stone-like, flinty scents that are dry and earthy yet show a piquant tanginess that’s peppery; second nosing passes after allowing for more aeration find soft notes of unsalted grain cracker, malted barley, sawdust, and oak plank. Entry is firmer in texture than I had anticipated, offering a pleasant oiliness that coats the palate and makes the flavor profile sweeter, more sugar cookie-like than I thought it would be; midpalate is dense, satiny, almost creamy in texture and zesty, tangy, peppery, and resiny in flavor, and frankly, the whole package is delightful. Ends warm in the throat, buttery on the tongue, and just plain tasty.” (2019 rating, Paul Pacult, The New Kindred Spirits, 2021)
Pineau des Charentes Finish
Highlights
Limited Edition: approx. 318 bottles. 46% ABV
Distilled in August 2012, bottled in August 2019.
Aged for 3.5 years in ex-bourbon and 3.5 years in Pineau des Charentes cask N°8163.
Reviews
Gold Medal, French Whisky of the Year (NY International Spirits Competition 2023)
91 points (Ultimate Spirits Challenge, 2020)
93 points.
“This French single malt finished in a Pineau des Charentes wine cask is a US-exclusive bottling for Armorik. The nose is fruity and complex with hints of red grapes, blueberries, and peaches balanced by touches of raisins and figs underneath. The taste is thick, oily, and rich with a spicy burst of clove on top of fresh fruits, figs, and raisin bread. The finish is long with subtle spices and hints of fruits. Very nice!” (WhiskyCast May, 2019)
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