Armagnac
Similar to Cognac in that it’s made from grape spirit, Armagnac is brandy’s dodgy uncle, who always shows up late and doesn’t mind a bit of a party. On a Wednesday. At 10A.M. Where Cognac is refined and elegant, using only the “heart” of the spirit before aging, Armagnac producers deliberately leave a small amount of the impurities from distillation to give the final product more character and depth. Generally considered more rustic, it’s a connoisseur’s drink, with warm, earthy characteristics and a lot more spice on the finish than Cognac. “It’s a proper boy’s drink. Cognac is elegant but Armagnac lets you know that you’re having a fucking drink,” says professional sommelier and avid drinker Max Gürtler.

Delord is the biggest name in Armagnac, and the 1963 vintage is the best place to start. While they release much cheaper expressions and non-vintages, too, this example is about as good as Armagnac gets and is a fantastic demonstration of what flavors you can get from a lengthy aging process. At around $300, you can do a lot worse.

Calvados
If Armagnac is brandy’s dodgy uncle, Calvados is its hot daughter. Like, really fucking hot. Made from apples and pears in Normandy, it’s as fragrant a spirit as you’ll ever meet and might be the most delicious shit you’ve never heard of. It’s also not too expensive, making it a necessary addition to your liquor cabinet. Seriously. Get a bottle now.

This 2000 Domfrontais vintage from Victor Gontier is made with at least 30 percent pears, making it a lighter, slightly sweeter spirit than Cognac or brandy. Victor’s dad François was the guy who pioneered the Domfrontais appellation, and this was their first release under this label, which is somehow still available. Ripe pear, poaching spices, and a lengthy finish make this a veritable delight. “Drink it neat, drink it all fucking night,” says Gürtler.