In this month’s Armagnac primer, we learn the basics about this French eau de vie, three things that differentiate it from its neighbour Cognac, and innovative expressions coming out of Dartigalongue Armagnac House with our guest Benoit Hillion.
Products, places and people mentioned in our Armagnac Primer episode
Cocktail of the Month for the Armagnac Primer episode: Armagnac Old Fashioned
5 cl Dartigalongue Double-Oaked
1 bar spoon simple syrup
2 dashes Angostura bitters
To garnish: Orange zest
Stir together in a rocks glass.
Add an additional splash of water as needed.
Add large ice cube.
Garnish with orange zest.
More about this month’s guest:
Benoit Hillion was born in Provence and studied agronomy in Paris. He graduated from Institut National Agronomique Paris-Grignon in 2006, after 5 years of studies including training sessions in Bolivia, Cambodia, and Vietnam. During his studies, he met and then married Virginie, 6th generation of DARTIGALONGUE, the oldest house of Bas-Armagnac.
In 2010, Françoise Dartigalongue, Virginie’s aunt and CEO of Armagnac Dartigalongue since the 1980’s, proposed that Benoit join the company. Françoise wanted to transmit her know-how to the next generation. Benoit and Virginie took over this unique opportunity and challenge, quit their jobs in Paris, and arrived in Nogaro in may 2010.
Benoit focused on the cocktail segment: with Ghislain Laffargue, they created a range of 2 young blends dedicated to cocktails, called UN-OAKED and DRY-CELLAR ARMAGNACS. There were launched in September 2019 on the French market and found a great success with bartenders: the renewal of Armagnac! Benoit is convinced that Armagnac has to find its place in mixology, with young products focusing more on
intensity and character, then roundness and complexity as usual.
Big thanks to…
Benoit of Dartigalongue
World Radio Paris for editing and production
If you liked this episode, you might want to check out our recent interview about Farm to Bottle in France.
You can also find more of the best Paris cocktail talk at:
52 Martinis site or if you’d like to carry me around in your pocket, download the iOS app, Paris Cocktails.
Paris Cocktail Talk is available on iTunes, World Radio Paris, 52 Martinis or wherever you get your podcasts.
