Much of the pleasure experienced when dining at Manresa actually occurs after the meal when reflecting on the elements that compose each course. I highly recommend a digestif to “pair” with this reverie. A pour of Armagnac or Cognac is my prescribed complement. Although sometimes confused, each spirit has a unique history and sense of place. Their production dates back to 1461 when they were administered as medicine for most anything that ailed you.
Today the differences between Armagnac and Cognac are passionately debated by their farmers, winemakers, distillers and aficionados, however all agree these are among the finest spirits made. “When God created the world, he saw that he had forgotten a little corner of Gascony and this made him sad. A tear ran down his cheek, and as it fell, it formed the region of Armagnac, signifying the first drop of liqueur.”*
We offer a carefully thought selection of Armagnacs and Cognacs for your enjoyment and I encourage you to join in this centuries old tradition. Below are a few these liqueurs we offer for your enjoyment. —Jeff Bareilles, Wine and Beverage Director
Armagnac
Darroze Domaine au Martin, 1978
Domaine Boignères, Folle Blanche, 1984
Château Laubade 1981
Baron Gaston Legrand, 1961
Maison Gélas, 1957
Cognac
C. Dudognon, Heritage—Grand Champagne
A. Edmond Audry, Memorial—Fine Champagne
A. Edmond Audry, Très Ancienne Réserve Aristide—Grand Champagne
*La Grande Messe de l’armagnac, Abel Semplé, Éditions Robert Laffont, 1988
