Orders are available for pick-up at Restaurant Nicholas at 160 Route 35 South Red Bank, NJ 07701 during the following times:
Monday: 9:30-3:30; Tuesday – Friday: 9:15am – 9:00pm; Saturday: 11:00am – 9:00pm; Sunday: Closed
$475.00 $385.00
Armagnac is the oldest French spirit – a product that has ancient distilling traditions that date all the way back to Medieval times. It may be considered an ‘old spirit’ but nowadays, the #1 Spirit in the world according to Paul Pacult and his 2023 Ultimate Spirits Challenge is once again an Armagnac. This time its the 1973 Armagnac from Raj Bhakta. Thousands of spirits were rated in the challenge, but the Bhakta 1973 was the ‘Best in Show’
Bhakta is the luxury spirit brand started by the former co-founder of Whistle Pig, Raj Bhakta. It’s the sole owner and steward of the oldest collection of vintage spirits on earth, with library releases that date back to 1868.
BHAKTA 1973 Armagnac is a “Golden Anniversary” expression considered among the house’s finest 20th century vintages. ’73 was condered a landmark vintage, and is now more than 50 years past the release. It may be an expensive bottling, but considering it has the #1 title for the year and can be had at a fraction of the cost of other 50 year-old Cognacs and Scotches that don’t even begin to compare.
This one was distilled in 1973 from the grapes Ugni Blanc and Baco and harvested in the region of Armagnac. It was aged 50 years and bottled at 107.8 Proof. It’s utterly magnificent and incredibly rare. I only have a few bottles to go round.
Out of stock
Don't worry! Enter your email and we'll notify you when it's available again or if we have very similar products from this producer.
99 Points (Best in Show), 2023 Ultimate Spirits Competition
“Rich layers of spiced fruit aromas reveal themselves in waves; cinnamon baked plums, caramelized apple tart, and floral undertones. Concentrated flavors of mixed baking spices, peach skin, fresh tobacco, and brown sugar are luscious and ever evolving through the suede texture. A pleasure to sip.”
Everybody in the whiskey world knows Baker’s. They have one heck of a reputation. They only make one two things their 7 year and the 13-year, and their 7-year single barrel straight Bourbon just means it is aged for at least 7 years. I was just allocated 18 bottles, and ours is special – it happens to be aged 8 years and 1 month! Bottled at the signature 107 Proof, this is a flat-out delicious bottle of bourbon from the distillery that makes no two barrels alike. This one hits with notes of Toffee, caramel, peanuts and black pepper. The mouthfeel is full and distinct with dried fruits joining the party and a smooth, lengthy finish.
I was given fourteen samples to taste through, and found that the 5th sample was the winner. This one is not for the faint of heart. It was a tiny barrel of just 40 six-packs, but the quality here was out of the world. It checks in at 110 Proof (55% alc.) and has harmonious sweet and savory notes that dual throughout this super long and memorable finish. It’s worth selling less bottles to bring you one this good – you guys are going to absolutely love it.
The juice here is so pure and elegant, it tastes much more like a $80/bottle of Tequila than one going for half the price, but that’s why I love these single barrel deals so much. The value is insane. This Reposado spent just under 12 months in used bourbon barrels. Golden brown with fresh agave, oak & vanilla. Remarkably smooth finish. This is one of those oddball tequila’s that is good enough to just sip on the rocks but cheap enough to use to make one hell of a margarita.
#1 Whisky of the Year (2023) – Whisky Advocate
“Our annual Top 20 Whiskies list is always filled with A-list names, along with a few lesser-knowns that make the grade. But it’s unusual for one of the latter to outshine the entire field, yet that’s precisely what happened this year, as Whisky Advocate’s panelists plucked a relative unknown from a group of big-name contenders. As we tasted, little did we know there was an upset in the making. Winning in a nearly unanimous vote, single malt scotch Glenglassaugh Sandend became our 2023 Whisky of the Year.” -Whisky Advocate