This was an interesting experience to compare two different ages of Armenian brandy in the same sitting. I had tried the 3, 5, and 7 year-old versions from the same producer before and had noted similarities with the fruitiness and sweetness of the 10 year below, but less polished and less complex. Certainly, I would have huge respect for anyone who does brandy reviews professionally-- there is so much there to try and appreciate, but the alcohol makes it quite a challenge as opposed to wine. And it was fantastically interesting to compare the difference in aroma when the brandy was in a snifter versus a shot glass-- the shot glass version smelled like simple butterscotch and didn't offer any of the enormous burn on the nose that the snifters nearly overpowered me with.
APATAT (Ararat) AXTAMAP (Akhtamar) Aged 10 Years (Armenia) 42% - From producer: Akhtamar is an island in the middle of Lake Van. According to legend, it was named after Princess Tamar, who is fabled to have built a fire on the island each night to guide her lover as he swam across the lake to see her. appears orange-gold caramel, smell superstrong on nose—be careful, violets, hazlenut, jam, blueberry preserves, with air, tons of spices and spicyness, world-class mouthfeel, taste crisp fruit, apricot and blueberry, slow-building burn, nice lingering warm finish, also noticed some rope, balsamic vinegar, candied butterscotch, and salty kiwi on finish, overall buttered rum feel to it with maple syrup, soft and quite fruity. Tasted side by side with Prazdnichny, 15 years, May 2007
APATAT (Ararat) Prazdnichny Aged 15 Years (Armenia) 42% - From producer: In Russian, prazdnichny means holiday celebrations. appears orange-gold caramel, nearly identical to Akhtamar, smell strong again on nose, but incredibly softer, honeyed caramel, strawberry, peanut butter cookies, bit floral, less fruity and more coffee and tobacco notes than Akhtamar, mouthfeel is pure butter on the tongue—a real pleasure, taste crazy spice ready to attack the tongue, but incredibly pleasant on arrival and especially in throat, lingering tobacco and tea tannins, quite chewy feeling to it, makes for mad desire to bite into a pear or similar fruit, substantial and very interesting—a great way to spend an evening. Tasted side by side with Akhtamar, May 2007