IWSC 2025: Armagnac’s time to shine

This year’s IWSC results brought both Armagnac and Cognac into sharp focus, revealing compelling contrasts in performance and style. From Armagnac’s standout triumphs to Cognac’s refined entries, the judging panel had much to celebrate and debate.

A stellar year for Armagnac

It was a triumphant year for Armagnac at the IWSC, with producers sweeping top honours and showcasing the category's remarkable depth and diversity. Judges were united in praise, highlighting the finesse, age, and character of the entries that dominated the competition.

Judge Rose Brookman said “Vintage and older Armagnacs were always going to do well and they delivered. We tasted a great number of old Armagnacs that showed balance, depth and rancio character.”

This year’s top Armagnacs are Marquis de Montesquiou XO Armagnac (98 points) and Château de Lacquy  Vintage 2007 Bas-Armagnac (98 points).

Whilst Cognac received a strong showing of Silver and Bronze Medal winners; only one Cognac was awarded Gold Outstanding: Hermitage Cognac 1995 Vintage Cognac (98 points), described as “scented with baked nectarine and manuka honey, underpinned by a hint of spice.”

The limited number of top scoring Cognacs led to debate amongst the judges. The judges carefully discussed the characteristics required to reach each medal and looked carefully at entries that fell on the boundary of two medals. Antony Moss MW lamented a scarcity of Cognac examples with the characteristics he sought which are “expression of the wine, including the dried fruits and dried flowers, with mellowness from maturation”

However, there is a strong showing amongst the Silver and Bronze medalists, with a variety of age statements and origins. All medals are hard won at the IWSC and not to be disregarded, an IWSC Silver Medal is a similar standard to Gold at some other competitions.

Older does not always mean better 

Consumers may have been taught that age was a sign of increased quality in Cognac and Armagnac, however, results from this year’s Competition suggest otherwise.  

Examples of high scoring, younger spirits include Waitrose No. 1 VSOP Armagnac with a Gold Medal (95 points) and Silver Medal winning VSOP’s from Cognac and Armagnac including Marquis de Montesquiou VSOP Armagnac (94 points) and Remy Martin VSOP Cognac (94 points).

At Bronze level two VS Cognacs received 89 points, Courvoisier VS Cognac and Tesco VS Cognac showing that there are high quality Cognacs that are easily accessible to consumers.

Cognac and Armagnac in the Global Context

Both the Cognac and Armagnac regions are rooted in history. Cognac is an area dominated by large international players where these has long been a focus on exports whereas Armagnac, has been more focused on smaller brands, and the French market. Whilst there is truth in this, it is not the full story.

One larger Armagnac producer who received Gold Outstanding, Gold and Silver Medal is Société des Produits d'Armagnacwho entered several of their brands. Judge Rose Brookman, commented in her feedback, that “Bartenders do not have much opportunity to experience Armagnac so are unlikely to put them on a cocktail menu and consumers do not have the education.” With the quality of Armagnac available, larger concerns such as Société des Produits d'Armagnachave an opportunity to introduce Armagnac to a wider trade and consumer audiences.

Our Cognac medalists are not limited to the big brands that historically dominate the Cognac category. We received and rewarded entries from many smaller companies who add to the diversity of the category, with their specific product techniques, and often a focus on appellations or their own vineyards. Examples of this include Painturaud Freres received a Silver Medal (93 points) for their Hors d’Age Cognac and  Maxime Trijol, who received Silver Medal (92 points) for their VSOP. Brand such as these demonstrate the variety and complexity of the Cognac category.

A full list of this year’s award winning Armagnac and Cognac follows. Explore the full list of IWSC medal winners on our website.