Ararat Apricot Brandy 700ML is a 35% ABV Armenian fruit brandy that infuses six-year-aged grape brandy with native apricots from the Ararat Valley. What distinguishes this expression is its use of Prunus Armeniaca — the original apricot cultivar — sourced from the species' ancestral homeland in Armenia, giving the spirit a depth that goes well beyond a simple flavored brandy.Quick Facts: ABV: 35% | Origin: Ararat Valley, Armenia | Base: 6-Year Aged Brandy | Distillery: Yerevan Brandy CompanyProduction & HeritageArarat Apricot Brandy is produced by the Yerevan Brandy Company, one of Armenia's most recognized distilleries and a longstanding symbol of the country's brandy-making tradition. The production process starts with ARARAT grape brandy that has matured for a minimum of six years, which is then combined with a careful infusion of Armenian apricots grown in the Ararat Valley. The valley's unique terroir — mineral-rich soils and an arid continental climate — produces apricots prized for their intense sweetness and aromatic concentration, qualities that transfer directly into the finished spirit.Tasting NotesAroma: The nose opens with ripe stone fruit and concentrated apricot jam, followed by a secondary wave of licorice and vanilla. Subtle oak and almond undertones emerge as the spirit breathes.Taste: On the palate, the entry is soft and fruit-forward with ripe apricot and dried stone fruit dominating. The mid-palate broadens with almond flake, cinnamon warmth, and a layered vanilla sweetness drawn from the aged brandy base. The grape spirit's structure keeps the sweetness balanced rather than cloying.Finish: The finish is medium in length with a sweet apricot aftertaste and lingering licorice-vanilla warmth. A gentle oak dryness rounds out the close, preventing the fruit character from becoming one-dimensional.How to Drink Ararat ApricotNeat and slightly chilled is the most rewarding way to experience the full interplay between the aged brandy and apricot infusion. A single ice cube opens the aromatics without diluting the fruit intensity. For cocktails, the spirit's 35% ABV and natural fruit character make it a versatile mixing component: try it in a Sidecar, where it adds apricot richness alongside the traditional citrus notes; in a Brandy Sour, where the stone-fruit sweetness reduces the need for added sugar; or in a Champagne Cocktail, where a barspoon replaces the sugar cube with warm apricot complexity.Best For After-dinner digestif service alongside desserts featuring stone fruit or almond Gifting someone who enjoys fruit-forward spirits with genuine provenance Introducing brandy drinkers to Armenian brandy-making traditions Building a home bar with distinctive cocktail modifiers that double as sipping spirits Frequently Asked QuestionsWhat does Ararat Apricot taste like? Ararat Apricot Brandy delivers ripe stone fruit and apricot jam flavors layered over a warm base of vanilla, almond, cinnamon, and subtle oak from the six-year-aged brandy. The overall profile is fruit-forward but balanced, with licorice and vanilla undertones adding depth.How does Ararat Apricot compare to Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot? Rothman & Winter Orchard Apricot is an Austrian apricot liqueur bottled at a lower ABV (around 24%), resulting in a sweeter, lighter-bodied profile designed primarily as a cocktail ingredient. Ararat Apricot is built on a six-year-aged grape brandy base at 35% ABV, giving it more structure, oak influence, and versatility as both a sipper and a mixer.Is Ararat Apricot good for sipping neat? Yes — the six-year brandy base provides enough complexity and structure for neat sipping, while the 35% ABV makes it approachable without the burn of higher-proof spirits. Serving it slightly chilled brings forward the apricot aromatics.Where is Ararat Apricot made? Ararat Apricot Brandy is produced by the Yerevan Brandy Company in Armenia, using apricots cultivated in the Ararat Valley — the region recognized as the ancestral homeland of the apricot species (Prunus Armeniaca).What foods pair well with Ararat Apricot? Dried apricots and mixed nuts echo the spirit's core flavors; baklava and other honey-almond pastries complement its vanilla and cinnamon warmth; aged cheeses like Gouda or Comté provide a savory counterpoint; dark chocolate with a high cacao percentage balances the fruit sweetness; and grilled lamb with apricot glaze creates a direct regional pairing rooted in Armenian cuisine.What sizes does Ararat Apricot come in? The standard widely available format is the 700ml bottle.Is Ararat Apricot worth the price? Ararat Apricot positions as a mid-range fruit brandy, but the six-year-aged base spirit and the use of regionally sourced Armenian apricots give it a production pedigree that outpaces many flavored brandies in its price tier. It functions equally well as a standalone sipper and a cocktail component, which adds practical value.Why Ararat Apricot?The defining differentiator here is provenance: the apricots used in this brandy come from the Ararat Valley, the documented origin of the apricot species itself. That is not a marketing narrative — it is a botanical and agricultural fact that directly affects the fruit's intensity and aromatic character. Built on a brandy base with six years of maturation, the spirit carries genuine oak-aged complexity rather than relying on sweetness alone. For anyone seeking a fruit brandy with real depth and a story that holds up to scrutiny, this expression delivers on both counts.
