It has centuries-old history, exceptional taste and is the only one of its kind. That's why it's called the King of Cognacs
By: LF Team
Posted on: August 10, 2010
Cognac was first acknowledged as a category of its own by king Louis XIII of France. In 1620, the family of Remy Martin settled down in the Cognac region, under the reign of Louis XIII. Then why did the family wait till 1724 to build the prestigious House of Remy Martin? And another 150 years to create the Louis XIII cognac in 1874? The answer is ‘excellence’.
The history behind Louis XIII cognac is often more fascinating than the taste itself. It is its exceptional history that makes Louis XIII even more desirable.
Remy Martin III started blending the first eaux-de-vie in 1821 for what was to be the Louis XIII cognac. His son, Paul-Emile Remy Martin learnt the art of cognac making from his father, and carried forward the legacy. The beautiful iconic decanter has another intriguing history behind it. It takes inspiration from a small metal flask which was found in the 1569 battlefield of Jarnac. Paul-Emile Remy Martin completed the creation of Louis XIII and officially registered the brand name in 1874.
The know-how of this cognac has been secretly handed down over four generations of cellar masters. Only a handful of people have the knowledge of creating this cognac. The current cellar master, Pierrette Trichet, blends around 1200 eaux-de-vie, which are aged 40-100 years in tiercons, century-old casks, made from Limousin oak.
The decanter has become even more glamourous over the years since its inception. The exquisite crystal decanter is hand-blown, individually numbered and ringed with 24 carats of fine gold. This unique work of art requires the expertise of 11 craftsmen.
The Louis XIII cognac has a lot of defining historical moments in common with great personalities of the world. All the great courts of Europe and Orient, including the Tsar of Russia, would serve this brilliant mahogany coloured nectar to their guests. It was a great favourite of Churchill and Chaplin. It was served on board the Orient Express, Normandie liner and Concorde. This unassuming liquid has rubbed shoulders with personalities of great magnitude. Such an exceptional cognac deserves to be treated regally.
One sip of this cognac leaves a lingering taste, evoking the taste of dried fruits, the smell of incense, with hints of sandalwood. The next sip creates an explosion of countless aromas unveiling the softness and smoothness of eaux-de-vie. In fact, the lingering taste lasts for an hour, an exceptional feat, which connoisseurs have likened to a ‘firework of aromas’.
A drink of this excellent cognac is not just an expensive indulgence. It’s also a journey back in time where you can relate yourself with the elites who have tasted this cognac.
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