L’Encantada Domaine Del Cassou 1999 Armagnac Cask #32

In 2011, Vincent Cornu, a caterer in Vic-Fezensac, France, regularly joined friends and local restaurateurs to buy bulk Armagnac for personal use. When one of his small, retiring suppliers offered to sell off their remaining casks, Vincent and a few friends accepted—launching L’Encantada. Unlike many negociants, L’Encantada built a cult following with bold, wood-forward, high-proof Armagnacs that stood apart from the typical sweetened, low-proof offerings. Despite early criticism for being “untraditional,” Vincent stuck to his vision. A chance discovery by an American spirits enthusiast helped introduce L’Encantada to the U.S., where it has since become one of the most sought-after sources of vintage, single cask, cask strength Armagnac—reviving interest in the category, all while remaining a part-time passion project run by four friends.