Review #881; Brandy #34: L’Encantada XO “Aficionados & Friends”

L’Encantada XO Blend “Aficionados & Friends Select”

This bottlings comes to us by way of L’Encantada, who is known for bottling excellent Armagnac. This is a custom blend of bottles, done by a large panel including t8ke, the other 4 Aficoinados co founders, and a smattering of other folks who tinkered with the blend till they settled on a 1993 Belair (57.13%), a 1986 Cassou (28.57%), and finally a 2008 Pouy (14.28%). This was bottled at cask strength with no additives. This project was helped along by PM Spirits, who does a great many things I enjoy.

ABV: 51.3%

Nose: Spicy, Black Pepper, Heavy Cinnamon, Allspice, faint orange peel.

Palate: Medium mouthfeel, Black Pepper, Cinnamon, Orange Peel, Faint Honey, allspice, floral.

Finish: Short finish, Black pepper, Orange Peel, Allspice, Cinnamon

Rating: 5/10

This is a fine Armagnac. It has a ton of good things going on, heavy on the baking spices and tannins. The fruit pops in and out but does not dominate. It is a fine blend, it just seems to lack a bit of something all the other Aficionado Brandy Picks have had for me so far.

1 | Disgusting | So bad I poured it out.

2 | Poor | I wouldn’t consume by choice.

3 | Bad | Multiple flaws.

4 | Sub-par | Not bad, but better exists.

5 | Good | Good, just fine.

6 | Very Good | A cut above.

7 | Great | Well above average

8 | Excellent | Really quite exceptional.

9 | Incredible | An all time favorite

10 | Perfect | Perfect


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