Delord Bas Armagnac VSOP 40% 700ml

Brand: Delord (Maison Delord)

Release Name: VSOP Bas-Armagnac (Labelled "Napoleon" in the USA)

Spirit Style / Type: VSOP Grade Armagnac Brandy

Composition: Colombard, Ugni Blanc and Folle Blanche Grapes

Age: Minimum 5 Years (VSOP Grade)

Volume: 700ml Bottle

Alc / Vol (%): 40.0%

Country: France

Region: Bas-Armagnac (Lannepax, Gascony)

Cask Type: Aged in Oak Barrels; Distilled Two-Thirds in Double-Distillation Pot Stills, One-Third in Continuous "Spider Tray" Armagnac Still

Limited Edition: No (Delord's Standing VSOP Release — Entry Point into the House's Core Range)

Award Winner: Yes — 89-90 Points (15/20), Vertdevin

Maison Delord is a family-owned Armagnac house founded in 1893 by Prosper Delord in Lannepax, in the heart of Bas-Armagnac, Gascony. Now run by the fourth generation of the family, Jérôme and Sylvain Delord, the estate cultivates 55 hectares of vines planted with Ugni Blanc, Colombard, Baco and Folle Blanche, and stands out for its unique dual technical expertise combining traditional continuous distillation with double distillation. Ageing takes place across 1,400 French oak barrels, and in 2020 the family's acquisition of the Galaubas estate marked their entry into organic Armagnac production — a further confirmation of Delord's ongoing commitment to quality and innovation within a genuinely traditional Gascon house.

VSOP marks the entry point into Delord's core Bas-Armagnac range, aged a minimum of 5 years — young enough to stay fresh, fruity and versatile, but old enough to have picked up real character from Delord's oak barrels. Delord uses a genuinely distinctive dual-technique approach here: two-thirds of the blend is double-distilled in traditional pot stills, while the remaining third passes through a continuous Armagnac still equipped with "spider" trays — a combination that adds real complexity compared to a single, uniform distillation method. Independent critics have rated it consistently well, scoring 89-90 points (15/20) from Vertdevin, and spirits experts often note that Delord's VSOP punches above similarly priced Cognacs thanks to the house's deep cellar reserves letting them offer genuine quality at accessible prices. Nicks Wine Merchants specifically recommends it as an ideal base for cocktails as well as a straightforward introduction to Armagnac for newcomers, and it holds its own served with or without ice. A reliable, well-reviewed starting point for anyone exploring Armagnac for the first time, or a smart, everyday alternative to entry-level Cognac.