10 FRENCH SPIRITS BY REGION

Here’s a look at 10 different French spirits and the regions that they’re from.

Yes, it’s true, France is particularly renowned and respected for its wine and Champagne. However, that doesn’t mean that the French limit their alcohol intake to just wine. Here’s a list of ten different French spirits and the regions they come from.

Whether brandy or liqueur, each is linked to its region, representing part of its identity and the local tradition. This list is by no means exhaustive, so if we failed to mention one of your favorites, let us know in the comments.

1. Armagnac

A French brandy that’s distilled from white wine, Armagnac was consumed as far back as the Middle Ages. Located in southwest France, the Armagnac wine region is in the heart of Gascony comprising the Gers, Landes and Lot-en-Garonne administrative divisions. The wine is distilled in a still and aged in oak barrels in accordance with tradition. Armagnac can be sipped as an aperitif in the form of a cocktail or served neat as an after-dinner drink, perhaps accompanied by a cigar. It is also used while cooking, particularly for a flambé or a sauce.

2. Cognac

Cognac, a neighbor of Armagnac, is another kind of brandy made from white grapes that is distilled and aged in oak barrels but produced in Charente. Their regional origin gives these two alcohols their own character, but other processes, such as distillation, also come into play. Armagnac is often distilled in a continuous Armagnacais still, while cognac is double distilled, following the Charentais distillation process.

Cognac

3. Floc de Gascogne

Floc de Gascogne is produced, unsurprisingly, in Gascogne. This aperitif wine is the perfect marriage of two-thirds grape juice and one-third Armagnac. It can be white or rosé, and served as an aperitif, a dessert wine, or perhaps as the base for a refreshing cocktail.