As you probably already know, a lot of folks have been beefing up their home bar selection since the beginning of the pandemic.

What you may not know, but can probably surmise, is that international transit routes and logistical pipelines for imported wines and spirits have continued to worsen since as the pandemic has progressed. 

When you combine a spike in demand with a shortage in labor and logistical fulfillment services, you get shortages. Long ones. Devastatingly long shortages. 

Not only did I see this coming more than a year ago, I prepared Mission accordingly from the moment I walked in the door last November, purchasing HUGE supplies of small production spirits to ensure I would have the supply I needed when I needed it, then storing it away for a rainy day. 

Example? 

Back vintages of Armagnac from one of the best value-to-quality producers in France. If you’re a Bourbon drinker and you’ve never tried Château Pellehaut, you’re truly missing out on one of the great experiences in all of spirits. With their big, sweet, woody character and high ABVs, there’s no spirit that brings this much age and satisfaction for this type of price anywhere.

Since Mission is now one of the only retailers in America with any inventory on these old vintages, I figured now was the time to tell you about them before we sell out. 

Over the weekend, we sold more than $2000 of Pellehaut with zero marketing, which means customers from all over are realizing we have the only supply available.

2001 Château Pellehaut 19 Year Old Folle Blanche Armagnac $79.99 - The 2001 is made from 100% Folle Blanche and was bottled in 2020 at 49.3% ABV with a 19 year old age statement. Pellehaut's younger brandies (a la the 2001) have less of that raisined fruit note, showcasing more of the bold spice from the oak; the Folle Blanche distillates in particular. The 2001 is a Bourbon lover's dream, brimming with vanilla and baking spices, before diving deeper into dark chocolate notes and an herbaceous finish.

1994 Château Pellehaut 26 Year Old Folle Blanche Armagnac $99.99 - The 1994 is made from 100% Folle Blanche and was bottled in 2020 at 48% ABV with a 26 year old age statement. The spiciness from the Folle Blanche has completely integrated with the richness of almost three decades in oak, and the brandy shares a number of similarities with an older Bourbon. Lots of vanilla, spice, char, and rich oak flavors coat the palate from start to finish.

1988 Château Pellehaut 32 Year Old Ugni Blanc Armagnac $109.99 - The 1988 is made from 100% Ugni Blanc and was bottled in 2020 at 50% ABV with a 32 year old age statement. Imagine drinking an ancient Cognac, aged for more than 30 years in oak, but bottled at full proof and with more new oak influence. That's what the 1988 Pellehaut offers for the bargain price of $109.99, with loads of power and gobs of richness.

1987 Château Pellehaut 33 Year Old Ugni Blanc Armagnac $109.99 - One of my all time favorite vintages of Pellehaut! This was also one of the first I ever bought for K&L back in 2011. The 1987 is made from 100% Ugni Blanc and was bottled in 2020 at 48.6% ABV with a 33 year old age statement. Like a Cognac (also distilled from Ugni Blanc), there's a lot of ripe, round fruit on the mouthfeel, but like a Bourbon there's a ton of new oak, baking spices, and bold richness. It's the best of both worlds.

1983 Château Pellehaut 37 Year Old Ugni Blanc Armagnac $114.99 - The 1983 is made from 100% Ugni Blanc and was bottled in 2020 at 47% ABV with a 37 year old age statement. Being that it's made from the same grape as Cognac, the 83 Pellehaut is very much like an older Cognac, aged in new oak, and bottled at full proof. There's a lot of rum raisin on the palate, completely coated in burnt oak and bold spices.

So how do you drink Armagnac? Pretty easy. Pour it in a glass.

How do you do it right, however?

You drink three bottles of wine, have an incredibly heavy dinner full of duck fat and bread, then you guzzle huge snifters of it until late into the evening.

At least that’s what I did between 2011 and 2018 when I was traveling to France multiple times a year for K&L. Remind me to tell you about the time I didn’t go to the bathroom for almost four days.

I completely understand there are guys out there who like Bourbon, and only want Bourbon, and that’s fine. But I’m not that guy, and I know many of you are hungry for a new adventure as well. 

I’m not turned on by rare whiskey. I’m turned on by guys like Ernest Hemingway, who spent years drinking his way through Paris, having experiences that forever changed the way he lived.

Experience is what life is about. For me personally, Armagnac is one of the last experiences out there for budding spirits enthusiasts that’s still ridiculously accessible and within reach of the common man.

I’m hoping more people take advantage of it while it lasts.

-David Driscoll