Authentic Spirits

07/10/2026

Ce week-end nous serons au Nantes Spirits Festival pour vous faire déguster Cognac, Armagnacs, Calvados et Fine d'Alsace.

📍 🗺 Rendez-vous à la salle de la Carrière – Saint-Herblain
📅 ⌚ Samedi 10 octobre de 11h à 19h & dimanche 11 de 11h à 18h

🥃 Hâte de vous y rencontrer ! 🥃

01/10/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭! 🚐🔎🥃
Lately, I’ve somewhat neglected the Gers and the Charentes to venture elsewhere and see whether the apples were any greener. As it happens, 𝐍𝐨𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐲 isn’t very far from where I live, which is a considerable advantage when you decide to go there on a regular basis. So I’ve been spending more and more time exploring small estates — some recommended to me, others discovered through research of varying degrees of method and randomness. And it was on one particularly enthusiastic recommendation (thank you, Olivier!) that I found my way to 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐞𝐥 𝐇𝐮𝐚𝐫𝐝.

The Huard family has been producing Calvados for seven generations around Caligny and Montilly-sur-Noireau, in the heart of the Orne bocage. Seven generations is probably long enough to start knowing what you’re doing. In the 1950s, Michel Huard began selling his Calvados in the Paris area, convinced that they could hold their own against the great prestige digestifs. Back then, it must have taken a certain amount of self-confidence to turn up in Paris with bottles of Calvados under your arm and explain to Cognac drinkers that they might have overlooked something.
In 2004, his grandson, Jean-François Guillouet, took over the family estate.
Jean-François is one of those producers with whom it is dangerous to schedule a one-hour visit. We spent the entire day tasting, talking, having lunch and wandering around the estate. I completely lost track of time. What I did see, however, was an extraordinary cemetery in the middle of the fields, a 19th-century Protestant church and enormous Salers cattle grazing beneath the apple trees.
The church now belongs to the estate. Jean-François plans to turn it into an ageing cellar as well as a venue for cultural events and celebrations. It is a rather unexpected career change for a Protestant church, but after a century and a half of faithful service, one might reasonably argue that it has earned the right to diversify. And the Calvados that eventually emerges from it will surely be divine.

The philosophy at Huard remains true to its origins: to produce great spirits by allowing time and terroir to express themselves, with as little intervention as possible. Distillation is entrusted to Pierre Huet, an itinerant distiller equipped with a 𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧𝐚𝐥 𝐜𝐨𝐩𝐩𝐞𝐫 𝐜𝐨𝐥𝐮𝐦𝐧 𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐥𝐥. Then begins the ageing process, spread across several different cellars.

The Calvados are reduced very gradually throughout their maturation, using water from a spring that flows among the estate’s orchards. Rather than simply lowering the alcohol strength, this water seems to act as a kind of revealer: gently accompanying the spirit without unsettling it, while bringing out the full richness of its aromas.

Naturally, I tasted quite a few Calvados that day. Among them, one 𝟐𝟎𝟎𝟖 caught my attention more than the others. This Calvados was aged in a 𝐬𝐦𝐚𝐥𝐥 𝟐𝟑𝟎-𝐥𝐢𝐭𝐫𝐞 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐤 kept high up in the cellar, directly beneath the roof, where temperature fluctuations are significant. The result is quite spectacular.

The nose is captivating, with bittersweet apple, balsamic c***r vinegar, beeswax, aromatic herbs and an intriguing suggestion of tomato concentrate. The palate is rich and complex, revealing roasted apple and buttery, caramelised Tarte Tatin, lifted by spicy notes of clove and a fresh vegetal character of menthol and eucalyptus. The finish is exceptionally long, tannic yet never drying.
A real favourite!

Cheers!

👇 👇 👇 Links in the first comment

18/09/2026

Calvados hunt 2026. A new release is coming in few days, stay tuned!

17/06/2026

95/100 pour le fantastique Cognac Grande Ch*****ne Lot 70 de la Famille Guillaume Duluc, c'est amplement mérité!
Merci Benjamin!

ÜBER 50 JAHRE im Fass! 🤯 Famille Duluc 1970 Cognac (Authentic Spirits) 👇
Authentic Spirits Guillaume Duluc

Review 👉 https://youtu.be/gf8J4l4aJcE

16/06/2026

Selected by a jury composed of Serge Valentin (France), Frederick Maitland (Scotland) and Gil Firth (Israel), this unreduced single cask is available on Amateurspirit.com for a few more days!

09/06/2026

The last selection of Amateur Spirit is available on https://amateurspirit.com/?product=kornog-2018
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Celtic Wh**ky Distillerie 𝐊𝐎𝐑𝐍𝐎𝐆
𝐏𝐞𝐚𝐭𝐞𝐝 𝐒𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐥𝐞 𝐌𝐚𝐥𝐭
𝐁𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐛𝐨𝐧 𝐛𝐚𝐫𝐫𝐞𝐥 𝟏𝐬𝐭 𝐟𝐢𝐥𝐥
𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟖
ABV: 𝟓𝟖,𝟒%
Natural color, no additives (sugar, color), no chill-filtration
Bottle size: 700ml
Price : 𝟏𝟑𝟎 € 𝐞𝐱 𝐕𝐀𝐓
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👃 N͟o͟s͟e͟: Bright and fresh. Citrus fruit, peach, intense peat
👅 M͟o͟u͟t͟h͟: Fresh, fat, and elegant. Impressive weight. Citrus and peach fruit. Floral. Touch of salt notes.
🫦 F͟i͟n͟i͟s͟h͟: Clean and fresh. Long. Intense. Takes water extremely well
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Why the lighthouse on the front label? Standing defiantly on the open sea reefs just off the coast of Pleubian, the historic Phare des Héaux de Bréhat has braved Northern Brittany’s violent currents and vigorous storms since 1840. This towering stone tower captures the unapologetic, robust character of Kornog’s peated single malt. This lighthouse is continuously lashed and shaped by the relentless Atlantic spray; it cannot go unnoticed during a visit to the distillery.

01/06/2026

13/05/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬! 🚐🔎🥃
The new releases keep coming! Here are three new bottlings that are available today and that the lucky ones who participated in the fantastic German Armagnac Festival last Saturday in Stuttgart were able to taste.

A few days ago, you saw the release of a rather crazy bottling, the 𝐆𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐮𝐦𝐞 𝐃𝐮𝐥𝐮𝐜 Napoléon Full Proof Cognac. There's another one! Guillaume Duluc also honored me by offering me a very old Lot of 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 from the house's "𝐩𝐚𝐫𝐚𝐝𝐢𝐬" cellar, the existence of which I was unaware. Impressed by its elegance, intensity, balance, and length, I had no choice but to bottle this 𝐋𝐨𝐭 𝟕𝟎, a true family treasure. If you liked the Saunier Lot 75, you'll love this Lot 70.

A few years ago, I made an improvised visit to a tiny 𝐁𝐚𝐬 𝐀𝐫𝐦𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐚𝐜 producer, completely impossible to find without some research, as there were no signs or website. Impressed by the overall quality of their production, I was eager to return and taste it directly in the cellar. 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐏𝐢𝐧𝐨𝐥𝐞 comprises less than 2 hectares of 𝐁𝐚𝐜𝐨 vineyards, producing vintage Bas Armagnacs since 1979 by two brothers: Alain and Claude Dupouy. From the outset, they chose to reject blending and topping up, preserving the authenticity of the work in the vineyard and the winemaking process. Since 1999, Alain has continued the adventure on his own. Two 𝐯𝐞𝐫𝐲 𝐡𝐮𝐦𝐢𝐝 𝐜𝐞𝐥𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐬, near the family home with its typical Landes-style timber framing, ensure optimal aging. It is perhaps the most exciting cellar I've visited in Bas Armagnac. This 𝟏𝟗𝟖𝟔 is, in my opinion, exceptional: characterful, fruity, subtly oaky, and elegant. Believe me, there will be other vintages to release this year from Authentic Spirits...

And here is our first collaboration with Romain Le Passeur. Founded in 2023 by Romain Duteuil, a nomadic and independent Armagnac bottler, Le Passeur works closely with producers. This Ténarèze Armagnac comes from the cellars of 𝐇𝐞́𝐥𝐞̀𝐧𝐞 𝐅𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐭 at 𝐃𝐨𝐦𝐚𝐢𝐧𝐞 𝐝𝐞 𝐋𝐚 𝐏𝐨𝐬𝐭𝐞. In 1968, Georges Faget realized his dream by purchasing a post house dating back to the 18th century to create his vineyard. Domaine de La Poste was born. Starting in 1970, the traveling distiller 𝐂𝐚𝐬𝐢𝐦𝐢𝐫 𝐌𝐢𝐜𝐡𝐚𝐥𝐨𝐮𝐬𝐤𝐢 set up his copper still on the property at the end of each November. For two decades, Georges meticulously distilled and aged his Armagnacs, which he never sold. They were his treasure. After 1990 and the death of his wife, he lost his passion for distilling and ceased his Armagnac production. Upon his death in 2011, his children, including his youngest daughter Hélène, inherited his life's work. We have the rare privilege of having been granted permission by Hélène to come and sample the Armagnac in her cellar. It is the first time, and not without a certain emotion, that she has sold an Armagnac made by her father, Georges. We selected this 𝟏𝟗𝟕𝟗 cask which really convinced us with its characteristic 𝐩𝐚𝐬𝐬𝐢𝐨𝐧 𝐟𝐫𝐮𝐢𝐭 𝐧𝐨𝐭𝐞.

For more details and to find them : www.authentic-spirits.com
And don't forget to subscribe here : http://eepurl.com/hXyNUn
Cheers!

09/05/2026

That is the question.

06/05/2026

𝐍𝐞𝐰 𝐛𝐨𝐭𝐭𝐥𝐢𝐧𝐠𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐫𝐚𝐫𝐞 𝐬𝐩𝐢𝐫𝐢𝐭𝐬! 🚐🔎🥃
Let's start with a surprise discovery while I was looking for Ténarèze Armagnacs. Paul 𝐃𝐮𝐛𝐨𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐢𝐞𝐮 was a producer of Armagnac with astonishing methods: he aged his casks outdoors, directly exposed to the elements, instead of keeping them in a closed cellar. He observed that aging in the open air resulted in a higher quality eau-de-vie, simply topping it up with a single cask from the same vintage, without ever adding any additives or reducing the spirit. Today, the estate no longer exists, but Paul's son, Bernard, has taken over the selling of the Armagnacs, available in three age statements (from 7 to 18 years old). Practicing also farming, the estate produced 𝐩𝐫𝐮𝐧𝐞𝐬, and a surplus of this production was fermented and distilled in 𝟏𝟗𝟗𝟓, then aged in 𝐨𝐚𝐤 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐤𝐬. After 20 years, the stock was transferred to a stainless steel cask. Bernard is now retired. I was fortunate enough to meet him and taste his three Armagnacs, including a stunning 18-year-old Hors d'Âge (that I'll be featuring soon) as well as this very old plum brandy. Given the quality of this eau-de-vie, I couldn't resist insisting on acquiring a few bottles to share with you.

Let's move on to 𝐆𝐫𝐚𝐧𝐝𝐞 𝐂𝐡𝐚𝐦𝐩𝐚𝐠𝐧𝐞 now. After bottling Lot 84 for Amateur Spirit a few months ago, Guillaume Duluc also told me about a very young cask from his production, exceptional for its aromatics and color (rich and dark). I had already bottled a cask strength VSOP from the 2019 harvest. Since this one was old enough to qualify for the "𝐍𝐚𝐩𝐨𝐥𝐞𝐨𝐧" age statement (over 8 years), I naturally wanted to create another special 𝐜𝐚𝐬𝐤 𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐞𝐧𝐠𝐭𝐡 edition (𝟕𝟎% 𝐀𝐁𝐕!), with a rather special label for the occasion, reflecting its character...

Finally, I have been searching for exceptional, unreduced fruit 𝐞𝐚𝐮𝐱-𝐝𝐞-𝐯𝐢𝐞 for a long time. Taking advantage of the trip to the German Armagnac Festival last year, I scheduled a few visits to producers from 𝐀𝐥𝐬𝐚𝐜𝐞. Fully committed to biodynamic agriculture, Domaine 𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐚𝐧 𝐁𝐢𝐧𝐧𝐞𝐫 has been writing its family history since 1770 and covers 11 hectares of vineyards. They also distill their own spirits to make the most of the vineyard's by-products and the fruit from their orchards. After explaining my desire to select unreduced eaux-de-vie, Béatrice Binner gave me a tour of the attic, where dozens of demijohns have been aging for years. It was there that I fell in love with a 𝐁𝐨𝐧-𝐂𝐡𝐫𝐞́𝐭𝐢𝐞𝐧 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫 𝐞𝐚𝐮-𝐝𝐞-𝐯𝐢𝐞, well-known as 𝐖𝐢𝐥𝐥𝐢𝐚𝐦𝐬 𝐩𝐞𝐚𝐫. From the 𝟐𝟎𝟏𝟒 𝐡𝐚𝐫𝐯𝐞𝐬𝐭, the pears were hand-picked, sorted, stemmed, and pressed. After natural fermentation and double distillation in the estate's copper still, it was 𝐚𝐠𝐞𝐝 𝐢𝐧 𝐝𝐞𝐦𝐢𝐣𝐨𝐡𝐧𝐬 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝟏𝟏 𝐲𝐞𝐚𝐫𝐬 𝐢𝐧 𝐭𝐡𝐞 𝐚𝐭𝐭𝐢𝐜, all without additives or filtration (so, 𝟔𝟏% 𝐀𝐁𝐕), resulting in the purest expression of the fruit. A huge favorite, quite simply the best pear eau-de-vie I've ever tasted.

𝐀𝐥𝐥 𝐭𝐡𝐫𝐞𝐞 𝐰𝐢𝐥𝐥 𝐛𝐞 𝐚𝐯𝐚𝐢𝐥𝐚𝐛𝐥𝐞 𝐟𝐨𝐫 𝐭𝐚𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐚𝐭 𝐭𝐡𝐞 German Armagnac Festival𝐅𝐞𝐬𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐚𝐥 𝐧𝐞𝐱𝐭 𝐒𝐚𝐭𝐮𝐫𝐝𝐚𝐲!

For more details and to find them : www.authentic-spirits.com
And don't forget to subscribe here : http://eepurl.com/hXyNUn

Cheers!