Armagnac and Cognac are both French brandies made from white wine grapes. Armagnac has a fuller, more complex flavor than Cognac. Unsurprisingly, Cognac is made in Cognac and Armagnac is made in Armagnac, in the Gascony region. While the two carry similarities, they also have some differences. Both Cognac and Armagnac are made from wine. However, Cognac typically only uses the Ugni Blanc grape, while Armagnac uses three additional grape varieties: Folle blanche, Colombard, and Baco Blanc. This thin wine is then distilled for both brandies; Cognac goes through two rounds of distillation in pot stills, while Armagnac only goes through one in a column still. This difference in the process greatly affects the end product.

Interesting fact: When tasting Armagnac, a trick is to dab your finger in the glass and then dab it onto the back of your hand. Once the liquid has evaporated, smell it up close: you should be able to detect dried fruits, like apricots and figs, or perhaps a bit of butterscotch and licorice.