Hayastan XO Armenian Brandy

Hayastan XO Armenian Brandy is distilled and aged in the proud tradition of Armenian brandy — double-distilled in Charentais pot stills, the same type of still used in Cognac production, then matured in casks made from Caucasian oak (Quercus macranthera). Bottled at 40% ABV (80 proof) in a 750mL bottle, it carries the rich, dried-fruit and spice depth the style is known for, with a smooth, warming finish. Available to order online from Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.

• ABV: 40% (80 proof)
• Size: 750mL
• Style: XO (extra old) Armenian brandy
• Distillation: double distillation in Charentais stills — the same style of pot still used for Cognac
• Maturation: aged in casks of Caucasian oak (Quercus macranthera)
• Origin: Armenia

Cognac Craft, Armenian Terroir

Armenian brandy production follows a strict classical method: grapes are fermented into a pale wine base, then double-distilled — first to a "raw spirit," then a second pass where only the purest "heart" fraction is kept. Hayastan follows that same discipline, using Charentais stills identical in type to those in Cognac, and matures the spirit in Caucasian oak rather than French oak — a wood prized for its porous structure, which lets the spirit breathe and develop the rich layers of fruit, spice, vanilla, and wood notes the category is famous for. Armenia has phased out the term "Cognac" for its brandies under a 2018 rebranding process, but the method underneath never changed. Explore the brandy collection or see more from Hayastan.

Tasting Notes

Expect the dried-fruit, vanilla, and warm oak-spice profile typical of well-matured Armenian brandy, drawn from its Caucasian oak maturation and double Charentais distillation — no brand-published tasting notes were found, so nothing beyond the category character is claimed here.

How to Enjoy

Serve at room temperature in a brandy snifter or tulip glass — a gentle swirl and a few minutes of air open up the oak-spice and dried-fruit character. It also works as a digestif after dinner or as the base of a classic Sidecar.

Frequently Asked Questions

A brandy made in Armenia by double-distilling wine — traditionally in Charentais pot stills like Cognac — then aging in oak casks. Armenia has one of the world's oldest wine-and-brandy traditions, stretching back over 6,000 years.

XO stands for "extra old" — a designation for a brandy's most mature expression in the line. No specific age statement for Hayastan's XO was verifiable, so none is claimed here.

Quercus macranthera, an oak species native to the Caucasus, prized for its porous structure that lets maturing spirit breathe — the wood Hayastan uses for its brandy casks instead of French oak.

Not legally — since 2018, Armenia has been phasing out the term "Cognac" for its brandies under a protected geographical indication. The production method, however, is closely parallel: double distillation in Charentais stills and oak aging.

Cognac-method distillation with a distinctly Armenian oak signature — order Hayastan XO online at Del Mesa Liquor in San Diego, CA.