The 9 Best Substitutes For Armagnac

What can I use instead of Armagnac? The best substitute for Armagnac is Cognac for sipping and cooking. Other alcoholic alternatives are Calvados, brandy, whiskey, sherry, rum, and white wine. Use brandy extract or fruit juice as non-alcoholic substitutes.

Armagnac is a French AOC (designation of origin) brandy, produced for 60 years. Like wine, Armagnac is made from fermented grapes, distilled, and aged in oak barrels. Armagnac is smooth with a sweet, subtly fruity flavor. Let’s look at the best 9 substitutes for Armagnac:

The Best Armagnac Substitutes

Cognac

The best substitute for Armagnac is another French brandy, Cognac.

Like Armagnac, Cognac has AOC certification, meaning it can only be made in Cognac according to strict requirements (such as an alcohol content of 40%). Twice distilled, this brandy is then aged in oak for two years.

Cognac has a complex, rich flavor and smooth, velvety mouthfeel, which improves with age.

Substitute Cognac for Armagnac if you want a top-shelf after-dinner beverage – like Armagnac, it’s pretty pricey and seen as classy.

Replace Armagnac with equal proportions of Cognac as a digestif and in fruity sauces. A Use third more Cognac for cocktails as it does not have as robust a flavor.

Calvados

Another excellent substitute for Armagnac is Calvados, a French brandy from Normandy.

Unlike Armagnac and Cognac, this brandy is made from fermented apples, not grapes, and dates back nearly 500 years. It is double-distilled and aged for several years to acquire its high alcohol content and rich amber color.

Calvados has a distinctive floral, fruity flavor, with the taste of apples coming through.

Substitute Calvados in equal amounts for Cognac, whether as a sipping beverage or cocktails.

Calvados is an ideal substitute in desserts, especially for flambeed crepes and fruit pastries. Use this alternative in savory meat and chicken dishes, where it strikes an umami note.

Brandy

A convenient and pocket-friendly substitute for Armagnac is any other brandy.

Most commercially produced brandy is made from grapes and will taste similar to Armagnac, especially to non-brandy drinkers. However, you find flavored brandies, such as peach or apple, which have a distinctive taste.

You can drink other brandy instead of Armagnac, so long as you choose a decent variety. The taste difference will be even less noticeable in cocktails, where you substitute in a 1:1 ratio.

For cooking, brandy is perfect for deglazing pans and for making rich dishes like coq a vin, beef stroganoff, and French onion soup.

It’s also a suitable alternative in desserts such as fruit cakes, brandy torte, or brandy snaps.

Whiskey

If you need an alcoholic replacement for Armagnac, you can try whiskey. Whiskey is a spirit made from grain (wheat, barley, rye, or corn) and aged in casks, often in Ireland or the US.

Whisky is the same as whiskey, but the spelling indicates that it comes from Scotland, Japan, or Australia. Scotch is Scottish whisky, usually barley-based, and aged for at least three years – but this can stretch to 50 years.

As a substitute for Armagnac as a beverage, whiskey has a similar alcohol content to brandy (30-60%), although it has a prominent, robustly alcoholic flavor and texture that is quite noticeable.

For cooking, substitute whiskey for brandy in equal amounts, but be aware that the flavor profile of your dish might change, and you may taste the alcohol.

Whiskey makes a better alternative for savory dishes, as it lacks the sweetness of brandy.

Sherry

If you need an Armagnac substitute for cooking, reach for the sherry.

Sherry is a Spanish fortified wine, which means that the alcohol content has been “strengthened” with the addition of brandy to 15-22%, which is higher than regular wine. The wine was originally fortified as a preservative.

There are many kinds of sherry, ranging from dry, light sherries to dark, sweet, and cream varieties. Generally, sherry has a fruity, nutty flavor that can be crisp or velvety.

Because it contains brandy, dry sherry makes a delicious Armagnac substitute, especially in richly flavored and creamy sauces in dishes like steak au poivre.

Sweeter sherry is lovely in desserts, including rice pudding, trifle, and instead of Armagnac in fruit cakes.

Replace Armagnac with an equal proportion of sherry.

Rum

Rum is a handy substitute for Armagnac. This alcoholic beverage is distilled from sugarcane juice or molasses. It, therefore, has a distinctly sweet taste, ranging from caramel to vanilla, with a smoky undertone and smooth consistency.

Made in the seventeenth century, rum is famous for being the drink of sailors.

Rum’s flavor, color, and alcohol content varies depending on the producer. All rum is aged for at least a year, with oak-aged rum being dark, while light rum aged in stainless steel is colorless.

Some rum is flavored with spices, coconut, or fruit. The alcohol content of rum can range from 35 to 80%.

Rum doesn’t make an ideal beverage replacement for Armagnac as the flavor profile is different. Choose a rum-based drink, like mojitos.

Commonly used in baked goods, rum is delicious in desserts like tiramisu, as it adds richness and sweetness. Use equal amounts of rum to replace Armagnac.

Wine

Wine makes a tasty substitute for Armagnac Wine is a liquor made from fermented grape juice and is the basis for most brandy, including Armagnac.

A massive variety of wine is available, depending on the type of grapes used, the growing conditions or terroir, and the fermentation and production processes. These variables influence the color and flavor of the wine.

A glass of wine makes a lovely substitute for Armagnac after dinner. Because it is less intense and alcoholic, wine won’t make a good alternative in cocktails.

The best substitute for Aarmaganc to deglaze the pan and add depth to savory sauces and gravies is a light white wine, as bold red wines can dominate a dish and change its color. Choose a sweeter wine for desserts. Use wine in equal amounts to brandy.

Brandy Extract

For the flavor of Armagnac without the alcohol, consider brandy extract as a substitute.

Brandy extract is an artificial flavoring that provides intense brandy flavor without using liquor, like almond or vanilla essence. Take care to ensure that the extract you buy contains no traces

You wouldn’t pour a glass of brandy extract to enjoy with cigars, but you can use add a teaspoon to mocktails for the aroma and flavor of Armagnac.

The best use of brandy extract as a substitute for Armagnac is in baked goods and desserts, where it adds the sweet notes you’re looking for.

However, brandy extract won’t replace the moisture that Armagnac provides, so add extra liquid to compensate.

For flavor, use one part of brandy extract for every five parts of Armagnac. If you need extra moisture, dilute the brandy extract in the same proportions with water or apple juice.

Fruit Juice

Another alcohol-free alternative to Armagnac is fruit juice.

Depending on the other ingredients in the recipe, use apple or grape juice, although pear, peach, and apricot are also suitable. Always choose pure juice without added sugar, so the flavor isn’t overwhelmingly sweet.

Fruit juice can replace Armagnac as a beverage if you only need a drink, but you won’t get the same sensory experience.

Juice makes a more appropriate substitute in cooked items since Armagnac is made from grapes and has a natural fruitiness and subtle flavor when used in food.

Use fruit juice in equal amounts to Armagnac, especially in pork and chicken dishes, or fruitcake.

However, if the recipe requires large quantities of brandy, the flavor and texture will be noticeably different – you may want to dilute the juice with water to make up the amount.