With three centuries of experience, the Rémy Martin family has distilled the process of cognac making into a fine art. To share the secrets about this exclusive liquor is Vincent Clème – Louis XIII brand ambassador for the Indian sub-continent.
Above all, and before anything else, there’s the sheer romance of it.
You don’t really have to be a cognac, or even a liquor enthusiast, to get goosebumps at the prospect of opening a bottle of a fine liquor which was casked a 100 years ago. The final rite of passage for a journey which began with a peasant harvesting some grapes in a field in Cognac, France, back in 1900 or 1910. The allure of Louis XIII transcends cognac lovers and imbues the liquor with a halo of almost mythical exclusivity.
Interestingly, most Louis XIII fans and customers do not drink cognac in general. Don’t get me wrong, cognac lovers are obviously thrilled by the unquestionable superiority of the liquor, but even those who appreciate the aromatic experience of a fine wine, are overwhelmed by a waft of Louis XIII’s fireworks – over 250 aromas – which invoke the ultimate nosing and tasting experience. Even whisky enthusiasts, who appreciate the ageing experience of a 20-, 30-, or even 40-year old single malt, can’t help but be disarmed by the subtle complexity of this centurion.
It’s not a gentleman’s club either: irrespective of the age-old association with men and their clubs, women are as susceptible to the smoothness, balance and the fine bouquet of aromas of Louis XIII. Ask Pierrette Trichet – our Cellar Master – and the first woman in the industry to ever reach that level of expertise.
Trichet is just the fourth Cellar Master in the 100-year history of the House of Rémy Martin, and represents just one chapter in Louis XIII’s biography. Four generations of Cellar Masters chaperone every single bottle of Louis XIII through its lifetime: right from selecting the best grapes (all of which are picked from Champagne-Grande, the best cognac terroir); overseeing the cognac double-distillation process; regularly evaluating the progress of each cask of eaux-de-vie through ageing; and finally assembling the exquisite cognac through an exceptional blend of 1,200 eaux-de-vie.
Finally, the decanter itself is a masterpiece of craftsmanship. The design is based on a metal flask found in 1874 on a 1569 battlefield. It is made of the finest Baccarat crystal with a solid 24k gold collar, which is adorned by the signature fleur-de-lys crystal stopper. Each decanter is the result of a synchronised ballet of 11 people over more than two weeks. I find quite often, that it’s people with an inherent appreciation for fine watches and cars who are taken with the painstaking craftsmanship which goes into creating the Louis XIII. And also why, people often buy a bottle as a gift: yes, it is fantastic to taste, but it also looks like a million bucks! In my mind, there cannot be a more fitting vessel for what is truly, one of the last precious elixirs in existence.
Obviously I’m gushing a bit, but just the sheer legacy of Louis XIII – from nature to man, from one Cellar Master to another, from a customer to his son, is the stuff that legends are made of.