Comments on: Armenian Delights: Churchill’s Brandy? Perhaps not… http://localhost:8080/brandy Senior Fellow, Hillsdale College Churchill Project, Writer and Historian Tue, 31 Dec 2024 18:03:16 +0000 hourly 1 https://wordpress.org/?v=6.9 By: name withheld http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-42584 Fri, 19 Feb 2021 05:40:16 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-42584 It’s a known fact that Russians did make this shipping a discreet one due to the war and the relationship between the 2 sides.
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Au contraire, it was in the interest of both sides (during the war) to profess great affection and cordiality, which they largely did. Stalin proved tough and obdurate in personal meetings but even there he often backed off (as at Teheran) when he thought he’d pushed too far.
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Never in the course of imbibing alcohol have so many words been spent over a bottle of brandy. In the words of generations of editors, barring any solid new information: “Correspondence on this subject is now closed.” RML

]]> By: name withheld http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-42585 Fri, 19 Feb 2021 05:35:21 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-42585 (1) You write below: “In order to establish that Stalin sent ‘400 bottles a year,’ you need to provide a legitimate citation from Soviet archives….If you have such documentation, state it, with the dates and quantities sent. I’ll be glad to amend my post, and notify Ms. Ghazaryan, who will be delighted at the news.” For someone claiming legitimate quotes, you should provide us same. (2) Can we see your legitime [sic] citation from Ms. Lynsey Darby? Because all we read, is you saying that she said that Churchill not often talked about that brand. (3) “This seems highly doubtful” How? What makes this “HIGHLY” doubtful? Nothing, only your interpretation. You claims [sic] that it is “HIGHLY” doubtful, while you have absolutely no evidence. Someone wanting to be right would just write: “This seems weird” or “this seems doubtful”, as there is no evidence about it. (There is no evidence for a lot of things we do accept.) (4) “I don’t see anything in my post knocking this famous brandy” Well, the whole post is about it. (5) Did anyone proved [sic] that lying to kids by pretending Santa is real is a good thing ? No. Well, you still do it.
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(1) With respect, it is not my responsibility to prove Stalin sent Churchill ‘400 bottles a year.’ That’s up to the writer who made the claim, who never offered proof. Absent evidence, one can only apply common sense: Did Stalin send Churchill “some” cases of Armenian brandy? Seems reasonable (there are 12 bottles to a case). Did he send 400 bottles a year? No proof, let alone for how long.
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(2) Ms. Darby’s comments were reprinted in full. Do we need an affidavit? (3) I wrote “seems highly doubtful,” but if you prefer “seems doubtful,” I am happy to go along with your refinement. (4) If there is a point here, sorry but I missed it. (5) My Dad gave me a letter in Santa’s own handwriting when I was five. (“There is no evidence for a lot of things we do accept”). RML

]]> By: Lilith http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-39317 Wed, 19 Aug 2020 12:05:31 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-39317 I can confirm that sending high quality Armenian brandy from Soviet embassies to host country’s leaders, ministers and friends of the embassy on special occasions, especially New Year, was a tradition that lasted until the late 1980s. This is also confirmed by Churchill’s daughter in the article. So it could well be that the Soviet embassy in the UK was sending these gifts on their list of addressees, including Churchill for a while, as it was sending to others here in the UK.

]]> By: Arthur http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-16872 Sun, 03 Dec 2017 02:01:33 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-16872 There is a kind of ambiguity about that story, but it was a part of the top global politics of that time, therefore it might be hard to find answers. Armenian brandy is really one of my favorites, but to avoid any counterfeits, you can use the guide where to buy it, and then order it online.
https://en.araratbrandy.com/gamma/importers/
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I have no way of knowing if their claim is true, but it is certainly fine brandy. RML

]]> By: David A http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-14621 Wed, 07 Jun 2017 23:06:08 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-14621 I recently visited the Ararat Brandy Company in Yerevan. They claim that they sent Churchill 300 (not 400) bottles a year of Dvin. I did a tasting and, fwiw, the Dvin has the most heavenly nose of all–but that extra 10% alcohol mKes it just ‘too aggressive’ on the tongue. Again, fwiw, the 10 year old seemed the best combo of nose and taste of those I tried–preferable to the 20 year old Nairi. But I did not try the Erebuni, which our guide hinted was her favourite.
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Agree with you. I must get hold of some Dvin. RML

]]> By: Michael http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-12901 Sun, 24 Jul 2016 01:48:15 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-12901 With or without Sir Winston, Armenian brandy is a very interesting, unique type of spirit, preferred by many over French cognac and some other spirits. Beware of numerous counterfeits, particularly poor quality products by Dozortsev & Son (e.g. Diamond X.O. so-called “Armenian” brandy). This contributed significantly to destroying good name of Georgian wines and now is busy with demolishing reputation of Armenian brandy. True Armenian brandy comes only from the Yerevan-based Ararat factory. Akhtamar, Ani, Nairi, Dvin (in order of my personal preferences) are my top choices. French cognac is too “girly” for me, but it’s all a matter of personal taste.

]]> By: Karina Smith http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-12897 Thu, 14 Jul 2016 21:11:32 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-12897 Does it really matter whether it was Churchill’s favourite or not? The fact is Armenian brandy is of excellent quality and taste and it’s conquering more markets. Just avoid the fake ones. I’m sure there is a way to determine before you buy.

]]> By: Richard Langworth http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-12896 Mon, 04 Jul 2016 00:33:36 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-12896 In reply to Patrick Brandon.

Obviously this is a really big deal, at least to somebody. As I explained to Ms. Ghazaryan of the Yerevan Company, there is no record of Stalin’s shipment of brandy in the Churchill Archives, which preserves every document from state papers to Churchill’s haircut bills. And Churchill was always careful to log foreign gifts. After Churchill’s “Iron Curtain” speech in 1946, it would seem highly unlikely that he would receive gifts from “Uncle Joe.” In order to establish that Stalin sent “400 bottles a year,” you need to provide a legitimate citation from Soviet archives. So don’t spout like an overheated tea kettle. If you have such documentation, state it, with the dates and quantities sent. I’ll be glad to amend my post, and notify Ms. Ghazaryan, who will be delighted at the news.

I don’t see anything in my post knocking this famous brandy, but I’m not sure how Stalin’s shipping cases of it to Churchill could be regarded as a “propaganda coup against the West’s giant.” It’s also a little silly to claim that Armenian ArArAt brandy is ignored by the West “to placate Muslim Turkey and Azerbaijan,” since it’s on sale all over the web. Having tried it myself, I would say the Turks and Azerbaijanis are depriving themselves.

]]> By: Patrick Brandon http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-12895 Sun, 03 Jul 2016 21:20:19 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-12895 You have researched Churchill’s papers and historical archives, but not the Soviet archives of the times. I have seen that particular request when in Moscow in 2013. Stalin did indeed send cases of Ararat brandy to Churchill. Some, due to politics of the Cold War, did indeed suppress this fact. The West did not want a “propaganda” coup favoring Stalin against the West’s giant, Churchill. And the fact was either ridiculed or suppressed. Armenia’s brandies (cognacs) are top notch. But then politics is once again is playing its dirty games, and the West to placate Muslim Turkey and Azerbaijan, simply ignores Armenian cognacs. As for you, you did not do your homework. There you go Churchill historian.

]]> By: willy kirzner http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-12851 Sat, 13 Feb 2016 16:44:23 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-12851 I just had a Nairi brandy, probably a 45-year-old, with a friend of mine who received the bottle from a Russian client of his. The brandy was bottled in a 2.5 liter crystal bottle. I am curious of the value of such a bottle today. It was full-bodied, with a long aftertaste with a slight nutty finish. Superb

]]> By: Giovanni Dannato http://localhost:8080/brandy#comment-876 Fri, 15 Feb 2013 22:24:47 +0000 http://richardlangworth.com/?p=2408#comment-876 I’m sipping on an ArArAt brandy right now. I bought a bottle of the young stuff, but it’s easily the best I’ve had for the price range. Tastes like they used a copper still. I wanted to try the Churchill brandy since I like historical food and drink. Looks like the story of “Churchill’s brandy” may have been exaggerated but the ArArAt brandy still does lead to a link between two famous world leaders at an especially important time and place. I also have enjoyed trying out Kvanchkara and Kindzmarauli, Stalin’s favorite Georgian wines.

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