L'Encantada Lous Pibous Hail Yak 1995 #135

Passover week provides an annual incentive to dig into my teetering pyramid of samples that are not whisky and I’ve been looking forward to starting an exploration of Armagnac, which I’ve been told can provide the elusive funky notes I crave. I don’t get any of them here, but what I do get is something akin to a spectacular aged bourbon, with well rounded notes of chocolate raisins and caramel. The oily mouthfeel is sublime and the oak influence more restrained than you would find in any bourbon of a similar age. This was priced at $125 when it was bottled for one of the online communities I frequent, making a strong argument that there’s never been a better time to broaden my horizons beyond grain spirits. Hail yak indeed.

L’Encantada is somewhat of a cult favorite in the Armagnac world. Just as Caroni is to rum, and Brora to whisky, L’Encantada is to Armagnac. Armagnac producers in general are quite small compared to whiskey. These are not the mega-behemoths of the distilling world, but rather small farmer distillers. L’Encantada takes that romanticized notion a step a further: they go procure the farmers that make barely a few barrels a year. Yet—-you can still get these 20-30-40 yr micro-distilled single farm single spirits for just around $110-150. Imagine a 30yr single farm whisky made just a few barrels/yr?! It’ll be well over $1000. Micro-distillation is just one aspect. Cask management is a factor too. These producers that L’Encantada go to are using wood from their own land, storing in garages, basements, and their barns. Why “the Brora” and “Caroni “ of the Armagnac world? Well...L’Encantada goes to the micro farm distiller, but the Louis Pibous ones are no longer in operation. So, the few out there are it. This one is a 24 yr old Louis Pibous, which I paid maybe $5 for a sample vial ( not sure prices now...this was a sample from some years back). It’s not like your normal Armagnac. Normally, it’s a grape-y, viscous, woody flavor. Especially something 20+ yr old. This feels young and vibrant. Honeysuckle, cedarwood, and jasmine. It’s more like a Lowland single malt than Armagnac. Really unique and worth a try.

Tried this at a friends house. The Brora/port Ellen/Karuizawa/Hanyu of armagnac. Great stuff Nose: Chocolate, Salted Caramel, Raisins, Roses, Violets, Vanilla, Sultanas, Citrus Palate: Raisins, Chocolate, Oak, Pepper, Berries, Orange, a little Plum Finish: Chocolate, Cherry, Oak, Strawberries, Orange And the scary part was I later tried a 30 Year L’Encantada Le Freche that was even better.