Jardins d’Arménie Royal Brandy marked its global launch on the evening of Saturday, September 13 with a gala at the Hôtel Hermitage Monte-Carlo, attended by H.S.H. Prince Albert II of Monaco and Armenia’s Ambassador to France, Arman Khachatryan. In the grandeur of the Salle Belle Époque, around a hundred guests were treated to an evening of fine dining, Armenian music and dance, and an art exhibition curated in partnership with Galerie Angelina and the Artists’ Union of Armenia.
The highlight of the night came with an exclusive tasting led by Bruno Scavo, former head sommelier of Monte-Carlo Société des Bains de Mer. Scavo guided guests through the layered aromas of the new spirit, which its creators describe as an entirely new category of brandy that fuses traditional Armenian craftsmanship with modern innovation.
Behind the project is businessman Simon Pogossian, founder of SPS Cigaronne and Newline Brands Global LLC, whose family has spent three decades producing luxury products rooted in artisanal excellence. The torch has now passed to his 27-year-old son, Armen Pogossian, who is spearheading the brand’s international ambitions. “Jardins d’Arménie is the expression of our history, our art, and our savoir-faire,” Pogossian said. “Each sip embodies the strength of our land and the finesse of our craftsmanship. To unveil it in Monaco, in the presence of His Serene Highness Prince Albert II, is a powerful symbol: sharing Armenian excellence with Europe.”
Jardins d’Arménie Royal Brandy is made from Voskehat grapes grown in three regions of Armenia and undergoes a distinctive aging process. It is first matured in oak barrels, which lend chocolate and vanilla notes, then transferred to apricot wood casks – the house’s signature – to develop fruit and nut layers, before a final refinement in oak. The result is an elegant spirit with aromatic depth and a long finish.
The brand also introduces two innovations: a patent-pending hermetic cap that protects aromas from cellar to glass, and a set of specially designed tasting cups included with each bottle. For Scavo, the chance to present it in Monaco was, as he put it, “a rare privilege.”
