Washington, DC – Friday July 19, 2024: Aficionados Group is proud to announce the first bottling of Le Passeur Single Cask Armagnac to retail in the United States, in a newly deepened partnership with PM Spirits of Brooklyn, NY.
This single cask armagnac represents the efforts and prowess of the roving independent bottler Le Passeur, operating in Armagnac, France to bottle the best Armagnac single casks, directly on the estate of the producer.
Technical Information:
- Distiller: Marc Saint Martin
- Bottler: Le Passeur
- Importer: PM Spirits
- Distributor: Prestige-Ledroit
- Selection: Aficionados Group
- In A Few Words: An exclusive, American market first, import and unveiling of Le Passeur’s excellent Armagnacs, all single cask in nature.
- Distilled: 1992
- Bottled: 2023
- Yield: 252 Bottles
- ABV: 54.3% ABV
- Grape Varietal: Baco
- Cellar Condition: Dry
- Labeling: Custom Label for Aficionados Group
- Tasting Notes: Powerful nose layered with deep pipe tobacco, stewed fruits, date fruit, a hint of rancio, bold slate and opulent stone fruit. The palate is rich and viscous, oily and chewy, decadent texture. Stone fruit, dates, black currant, tobacco and minerality continue with gently layered oak, gorgeous black cherry, apricot jam and a continuation of rancio from the nose. Eternal finish, opulent and balanced.
About The Release
A first for the United States; PM Spirits and Aficionados Group have partnered to helm the first import for a new Armagnac brand in the United States. Introducing Le Passeur, the bandit bottler, Armagnac smuggler, the mobile, militant estate crawler. Le Passeur works with Armagnac producers to bottle exceptional single casks directly on their estates, with no coloring, filtering or additives.
A bold, powerful, opulent armagnac, this release stands tall among recent selections for its depth and complexity, as well as its eminent provenance and prestige.
About The Producer:
Marc Saint Martin distills from vines grown on 65 hectares of land in Armagnac. His vines are his own: he’s grown them, maintained them, and produces his own wine and distillate. Produced on his Marie Jeanne still, the oldest mobile still in the Armagnac region.
About This Cask:
Distilled from Baco grown on tawny, sandy soil with a high distillation proof. It was matured in a dry cellar and bottled at cask strength with no coloring, filtering or additives. It was distilled in 1992 and bottled in July of 2023, bound for the United States.
About Aficionados Group:
Aficionados Group is an international collective of highly selective spirits enthusiasts, bound to no single spirit type. The group thrives as a contingent of many different country’s most discerning drinkers. Founders Jay West, Franklyn Gould, Dan Ohlemiller, David Currin and Bradley Bogdan make precious few cask selections each year and commission unique distillations as well. Aficionados Group is known for its inclusive spirits expertise and far reaching relationships to share and spread the word of interesting spirits everywhere.
This Le Passeur single cask marks a deepened relationship between Aficionados Group and PM Spirits, a geeky New York importer who shares the group’s motivation to spread only the best bottlings across the country and the globe. Aficionados Group thanks both PM Spirits and Prestige-Ledroit for their import and distribution partnership to enable exceptional releases such as these.
About PM Spirits (In Their Own Words):
PM Spirits is a small but mighty operation bringing niche spirits from throughout the world to the US. We function as a full-service hybrid – importing and distributing, collaborating with producers, building brands, advising on marketing, packaging, sales strategies, etc. On paper we operate as two separate but intertwined arms: a national importer and a NY distribution company. We champion spirits crafted by artisans who pour their passion and expertise into every bottle.
About Prestige Ledroit (In Their Own Words:)
Prestige-Ledroit Distributing Co. is a Mid-Atlantic distributor that offers a comprehensive selection of artisanal and authentic wine and spirits from around the globe.
