Celebrating Cognac: France’s most luxurious spirit

Put that dram down, we’ve got something better.

Once the preserve of gentlemen’s clubs (cigar in one hand, snifter in the other) and Chinese banquets, Cognac has been coined “the liquor of the gods” and the epitome of French luxury, though it has long been more adored by other nations. The great Cognac houses date back to the 18th century, but until about a decade ago the pour did not get much popular press, cultural buzz or airing in bars.

Fast forward to 2022 – Cognac is newly chic, and a key ingredient in creative cocktails. Here’s all you need to know about one of the most loved, complex and dynamic spirits out there today.

What is a Cognac?

Cognac is a type of a brandy, which in turn is a distilled spirit produced from fermented fruit, most commonly grapes. To be categorised as Cognac, and thus elite, the spirit must be produced within the limits of the Cognac region in southwest France. The Ugni Blanc grape has to lead the blend, and it must be twice distilled in a Charentais copper pot still and then aged for at least two years in French oak.

The chosen tipple of emperors, kings and aristocrats, from Napoleon to Louis XVII, this French craft product was, in fact, invented by the Dutch to make wine easier to transport by sea. Double-distilled ‘brandewijn’, or burnt wine, took up less space in oak barrels, and this chance maturation process and infusion of vanilla and toffee flavours from the oak metamorphosed the resulting liquor into something nutty, earthy and truly elegant.

Also Read: Introducing from Mexico: Corn Whisky

History

The Dutch pioneered, and the English followed. Thomas Hine, a 16-year-old linen trader from Devon, crossed the Channel right to the horse’s mouth, falling in love with a local girl and taking over her family’s Cognac business. Over the years, Hine discovered that if Cognac is matured in the infamous English weather instead of the strong French sun, it developed incredible full-bodied notes within the cask. Thus began the practice of sending portions of Hine Cognac from the cellars of Jarnac to England – possibly for more than 20 years – before being packed back to France for bottling. Such attention to detail rarely goes unnoticed; the ‘early landed’ Hine spirit is the official Cognac of the British Royal family.

What makes for a fine cognac?

Patrons obsess over Cognac not only for its parallels to barrel-aged whisky, but also because of its extremely limited production – less than one percent of the world’s spirits by volume – and the unique identity of its provenance. Truly a labour of love, this silky smooth digestif requires patience to produce and appreciate – a painstaking craft which can be imitated, but not replicated anywhere else on the planet. Surely, taste is deeply personal but what makes for an award-winning premium cognac?

We turned to experts in one of the world’s largest luxury travel retail DFS Group, for answers. “A premium cognac needs to strike the perfect balance between floral and fruity aromas and light oaky notes, [and] harmoniously combine the sophistication with refinement and cater to all the senses – from sight and touch to smell and taste,” opines Christophe Marque, President Merchandising, DFS Group.

We sipped a (large) number of sophisticated options to list just two. Whilst inflicting a flesh wound to the proverbial wallet, they epitomise elegance and demand to be savoured royally.

Also Read: Rum-surgence – From sailors’ grog to premium spirit

Top Picks: Richard Hennessy

Photo courtesy of Hennessy

The top-tier Richard Hennessy is always a standout with its hefty price tag, stately decanter, incredible design, and world-class legacy. One of the rarest Cognac in its collection – is blended from some of the scarcest eaux-de-vie in Hennessy’s reserves, sourced from the Founder’s Cellar on the family estate. Complexity, structure and vision are presented in each sip of this velvety, sensational crackling spirit. The taste is other-worldly, courtesy of the ageing in the historic French oak barrels, coupled with the experience of pouring straight from an elegant Baccarat crystal decanter; each sip is an immersion in the intertwining of history and future – sounds a lot like secret society but it’s one of those luxurious ‘last wish’ spirits…

Camus Symphony – Vivaldi

Camus Symphony French luxury, Cognac gafencu wine — *Photo courtesy of Camus Symphony*

This gourmet and expressive rollercoaster of an offering from one of the biggest independent, family-owned Cognac company, CAMUS, is moreish on a chilly night. The 48-year-old vintage is uniform in character, and like a harmonious orchestra, each flavour plays its notes in tandem. Fresh, spicy with notes of pear and apricot, Christophe Marque recommends some fine music to go with the “versatile spirit”. He says, “Camus Symphony is best enjoyed with music for an added stimulation to the senses, each cognac has been created to reflect the personalities and masterpieces of Vivaldi, Mozart and Verdi, with each bottle engraved at Les Ateliers Camus with a music score of each composer.”

Fresh, spicy with notes of pear and apricot – this unexpectedly soft and silken tipple makes you almost feel guilty for liking it so much.

Top Picks: Hennessy Paradis

hennesy paradis French luxury, Cognac gafencu wine — *Photo courtesy of Hennessy*

Nurtured to maturity by the passion of successive generations of the same family, Paradis blends 100 eaux de vie aged for up to 130 years. This fine seducer in amber gold hues finishes with an elegant and deep note of spices, flowers and truffles. An inferno in the mouth, team it with a pear tobacco and the craft tipple

(Text: Nikita Mishra)

Also Read: English Wines are Becoming Hip: Here’s a toast!

Toast to the new Year of the Tiger with the opulent Louis XIII

Ring in the Lunar New Year with a toast to welcome the 2022 Year of the Tiger. Serving as a symbol of wealth and happiness, what better way to raise your glass in celebration of a new beginning with close friends and family than with a luxurious imbibe, by the venerable Louis XIII.

Unparalleled in skill, knowledge and quality, the celebrated cognac maker puts out a sumptuous and deliciously tantalising cognac — a testament of the brand’s more than 140 years of experience in the mastery of producing one of the world’s most desirable and sought-after imbibes.

However, Louis XIII’s undeniably indelible flavours don’t come without the painstaking crafting process of each of its cognac. The distillery, since Louis XIII’s inception in 1874, have had generations of wine cellar experts curate a staggering array of eau de vie made from grapes grown in France’s Grande Champagne region.

These experts select from over 1, 200 different eau de vie – some younger, while some date back centuries – to create a harmonious blend of rich flavours. Over 250 disparate aromas are incorporated together, resulting in a vivid freshness of passion fruit and spice of ginger to rich notes of candied plumbs; giving the tipple its common comparison to drinking a sumptuous sip of perfume.

Even while the focus of carefully distilling decadent cognacs, equal attention is paid to the bottling process as well, ensuring the finished product is fit for the eponymous French king the brand takes its name from. As such, each bottle is lovingly handcrafted by artisans of one of two French royal crystal workshops – Baccarat or Saint Louis – transforming the containers into glorious works of art fit to present as the perfect gift for the Lunar New Year.

Stay in touch with LOUIS XIII:
Website: https://www.louisxiii-cognac.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LOUISXIII
Instagram：@LOUISXIIICOGNAC
Youtube：https://www.youtube.com/user/LouisXIIIofficial

Call to join the LOUIS XIII Society:
Hong Kong: +852 37109396
Macau: +853 2871 9699

Louis XIII: The perfect present for loved ones this gifting season

With the holidays just around the corner, there are more than a few reasons to raise your glasses to in celebration. While home-bound with close friends and loved ones this time of the year, a toast to togetherness and new beginnings comes complete with the perfect winter imbibe to share or gift this season, the venerable Louis XIII.

Boasting over 140 years of experience, the luxury cognac maker boasts unparalleled skill, knowledge and sheer savoir-fair in creating deliciously tantalising cognacs, that few can match up to — it’s small wonder, then, that it makes for the most desirable and sought-after of presents.

Making moments into memories, the root of the indelible flavours of Louis XIII lie in the painstaking brewing process each cognac undergoes. Since the master distiller’s founding in 1874, generations of wine cellar experts have amassed and curated a staggering array of eau de vie made from grapes grown in France’s Grande Champagne region.

To ensure the ultimate blend, these experts select from over 1,200 different eau de vie – some younger, some dating back centuries – to create a synergistic whole. Over 250 disparate aromas are instilled within, ranging from the vivid freshness of passion fruit and spice of ginger to rich notes of candied plumbs. Small wonder, then, that drinking Louis XIII has been compared to drinking perfume.

Even as great care has been taken in distilling the cognacs, equal attention is paid to their bottling to ensure the finished product is fit for the eponymous French king the brand takes its name from. As such, each bottle is lovingly handcrafted by artisans of one of two French royal crystal workshops – Baccarat or Saint Louis – transforming the containers into glorious works of art. Epitomising cognac-making both without and within, Louis XIII makes for the perfect present to gift that special someone this festive season.

Stay in touch with LOUIS XIII:
Website: https://www.louisxiii-cognac.com
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/LOUISXIII
Instagram：@LOUISXIIICOGNAC
Youtube：https://www.youtube.com/user/LouisXIIIofficial

Call to join the LOUIS XIII Society:
Hong Kong: +852 37109396
Macau: +853 2871 9699

Rémy Martin launches new campaign to team up for excellence

The world’s leading cognac brand, Rémy Martin, pays a rich homage to its heritage through a recently-launched new global communication campaign “Team Up For Excellence”.

This quest for excellence has been at the core of Rémy Martin since 1724 and over the passing centuries this urge to strive for brilliance has only heightened further. The new campaign encapsulates that very essence of the brand through two films conceived by the Fred & Farid Paris agency and directed by Brazilian director Vellas.

The first film dedicated to Rémy Martin’s expertise shows masters of the Rémy Martin Estate together for the first time – Baptiste Loiseau (Cellar Master), Laura Mornet (Viticulture Consulting Manager), Julien Georget (Estates Manager) and Michael Meunier (Cooperage Manager). The film delivers a sensory experience through an ingeniously choreographed sequence linking the stages of cognac making.

The second film entitled Start-up is more contemporary in appeal, rooted firmly in the vibrant world of young, pioneering companies. It celebrates synergy, collaboration and the all-powerful force of creativity.

Made in Heaven: Rémy Martin XO & La Maison du Chocolat

Many of us would agree that cognac and chocolate are among the most luxurious, most decadent pleasures in life. The Maison of Rémy Martin, the legendary cognac maker, has now enhanced the guilty pleasures manifold by enticing a select band of guests in Hong Kong to experience the first-ever pairing of Rémy Martin XO & La Maison du Chocolat.

Nothing less than a match made in a gourmand’s heaven, this unique marriage brings together the opulence of Rémy Martin XO, the ‘Holy Grail’ of extra-old cognacs, with designer chocolate by Parisian haute couture chocolate house La Maison du Chocolat.

The immersive experience transports guests to cloud nine, with its explosion of flavours and fragrance, allowing us to explore the nuances of each taste profile a little deeper – from the floral, fruity, spicy, even slightly smoky flavours of the Rémy Martin XO to the slightly bitter, yet delicately sweet notes of the gourmet chocolates from La Maison du Chocolat. The result is a sensory symphony that’s gleefully decadent and spiritually elevating at the same time.

The House of Rémy Martin’s International Brand Ambassador Florian Hériard Dubreuil, who was in Hong Kong especially to facilitate the pairing session, explains the unique idea, saying: “From growing fruits to perfecting their subtle aromas, both cognac and chocolate are created in unexpectedly similar ways, developing complementary flavour profiles. Chocolate pairing especially enhances the roasted dry fruits and cocoa facet of Rémy Martin XO’s aromatic spectrum.”

Check out moments from the exclusive event below.

LOUIS XIII Legacy Limited Edition Magnum: A celebration of history

Born in 1874, LOUIS XIII was the vision of Paul-Émile Rémy Martin, the third generation to head the ancestral cognac house, which today still upholds the strong family ties and values of its origins.

When Paul-Émile’s son sought a successor in 1925, he turned to André Renaud, a trusted partner with whom he had been working for over 15 years. From the 1960s, André worked hand in hand with his son-in-law, André Hériard Dubreuil, to whom he entrusted the house legacy.

It was André Heriard Dubreuil who founded in 1965 what is known today as the Alliance Fine Champagne, a visionary partnership with local winegrowers, leaving the house an invaluable heritage that cemented its success. Still today, the Heriard Dubreuil family is the cornerstone of the legendary cognac house, the guardians of its values and history.

So as LOUIS XIII celebrates the iconic LOUIS XIII Legacy Limited Edition Magnum, we talk to Marie-Amélie Jacquet, fourth-generation member of the Hériard Dubreuil family, on what makes this drink so exceptional.

Was it always part of your plan to join the family business?

It was absolutely the opposite. I always said that I don’t want to join the family business; I want to do my own thing. In fact, I was an investment banker based in London. Funnily enough, my mother was exactly the same. She had her own job and even started her PR company when she was pregnant with me. She kept that going for about 10 years and after that, she relented and joined her father and her brothers, who had asked her for many years to join the family business. In my case, I changed my career path after I had a prolapsed disc when I was 30 and my doctors advised me to change my lifestyle.

I had always cared very much for Rémy Martin and Rémy Cointreau, and I wanted to prepare myself to carry on the legacy of our great brand. I know there will come a time in the future where our decisions will shape the company’s legacy and we need to prepare for that and there’s no better way to do that than by learning from the inside.

How has life changed for you since the career move?

Well, it’s a lot less stressful now! I did have a bit of apprehension in joining the company as a family member. At that time my mother was the chairwoman, so I did wonder if it would be a new dynamic altogether. But luckily, two of my cousins joined around the same time and it was so much easier than I had anticipated. And when I say it’s a family company, it’s not merely because the family is involved in the company but because Rémy Cointreau – the company – is actually a big family.

Could you tell us a bit more about what makes the LOUIS XIII Legacy Limited Edition Magnum so unique?

It is very special, not just because it’s a very limited release of only 500 decanters, but also because we had the privilege of bringing together our four last cellar-masters. Each of them had a great part to play in creating the drink that we have with us today. It takes decades – even generations – to make a product such as the LOUIS XIII Legacy Limited Edition Magnum.

How do you anticipate LOUIS XIII’s legacy to be in the future?

I think LOUIS XIII will remain the drink of choice for great celebrations. I think it’s a celebration of history because it takes so long to make. As a brand, we are also committed to thinking a century ahead. I think what sets us apart is our promise and commitment to make LOUIS XIII not just for foreseeable decades but for centuries.