Ararat Nairi XO 20 Year Old Brandy
Ararat Nairi XO 20 Year Old Brandy is an 80-proof (40% ABV) 20-year Armenian brandy produced by the Yerevan Brandy Company since 1967 — a blend of eighteen spirits, the oldest aged at least 55 years, called the pinnacle of the craftsmanship of master blender Markar Sedrakyan. Deep dark copper with iridescent mahogany shades, it drinks of "toasted bread, spicy cloves, tones of cinnamon and honey" — the brand's words — with spices, pine nut and honey revealed against what it calls "a background of balsamic hues," harmonious, silky, refined, with an unusually long aftertaste. "Nairi" is one of the ancient names of Armenia — the "Country of Rivers," land of the Nairi tribes of the Urartu kingdom along Lake Van. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
- ABV: 40% (80 proof)
- Size: 750mL
- Age: 20 years; blend of 18 spirits, oldest at least 55 years; produced since 1967
- Origin: Yerevan Brandy Company, Armenia
- Awards: gold + Category Winner, Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition (brand-cited)
The Pinnacle of a Master Blender
Nairi is the bottle Ararat points to when it talks about Markar Sedrakyan — the master blender whose pinnacle this 20-year blend is called. The numbers are serious: eighteen spirits, the oldest more than half a century old, drawn from a house that has been making this exact brandy since 1967. In the glass: toasted bread, clove, cinnamon, honey, pine nut, all silk against dark balsamic depth. Compare it with the other XO-level pours in our cognac collection and the rest of the Ararat range.
Tasting Notes
Color: deep dark copper with iridescent mahogany shades. Palate: toasted bread, spicy cloves, cinnamon, honey. Undertones: pine nut, honey, balsamic hues. Finish: harmonious, silky, refined, unusually long.
How to Enjoy
Neat, given time in the glass — this is a sipping brandy in the XO tradition. Pairs with walnuts and dark chocolate; explore more slow pours in our brandy collection.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does "Nairi" mean?
It is one of the ancient names of Armenia — the "Country of Rivers," home of the Nairi tribes of the Urartu kingdom.
How old are the spirits in Nairi?
The blend is 20 years old overall, built from eighteen spirits, the oldest aged at least 55 years.
What awards has Nairi won?
The brand cites a gold medal and Category Winner at the Tokyo Whiskey & Spirits Competition.
Half a century of spirit in every bottle — order Ararat Nairi XO 20 Year Old online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.