Cognac Louis XIII

Here’s the next instalment of our trip to the House of Rémy Martin that saw us taste the exceptional Louis XIII Cognac.

The characteristics of Louis XIII

The story of Louis XIII begins back in 1821 when Rémy Martin, aged about 20 at the time, decided to mix the best eaux-de-vivres, (which he had kept in stock since the house’s creation in 1724), to create an exquisite blend to leave to his son, Paul Émile who would later transform the brand into a “Très Grand Champagne – Age inconnu.”

The Cognac is named after Louis XIII as it was during his reign that the House of Rémy Martin really began to prosper. It was also Louis XIII who christened the region’s eaux-de-vie “Cognac.”

100 years and more than 1200 eaux de vies later

Three generations have now overseen and contributed to the production of Louis XIII, a blend that requires more than a century to fully mature.

On a human level, that means that Pierrette Trichet who is responsible for choosing the best eaux-de-vies every year between January and March out of thousands of samples, will never taste his own blend, or even his predecessor’s. It’s a strange concept to dedicate your career to a product that you will never see in its finished state, but this is part and parcel of the Cognac process.

We also visited the André Hériard Dubreuil storehouse where the 100-year-old oak barrels that are used to age the Cognac are kept. The barrels, known as tierçons, are recognisable for their smell: a very specific sugary floral odour that is a result of the evaporation process.

In contrary to V.S.O.P. or  X.O. which are both comprised of a hundred or so different eaux de vies, Louis XIII is blended using more than 1200 eaux de vies which gives the Cognac its unique taste.

The notes

Some Louis XIII amateurs confided that even with their experience, they still identify new notes with every taste, notes that can be classed in the following categories:

• Appearance: a mahogany colour.
• Scent: Predominantly jasmine and saffron notes mixed with spicy and floral aromas and a hint of Chinese spice and Havana tobacco. On closer examination, hints of dried fruit and incense are also identified.
• Palate: The first sip blends fig and sandalwood. However it’s up to the individual to identify his preferred flavours amongst an infinite array of tones.

The carafe

The original bottle was discovered on a Jarnac battlefield in 1596 and was later bought by Paul Émile Rémy Martin I who used it as his inspiration for the Louis XIII packaging.  Engraved with the distinguished fleurs de lys logo, the bottle’s appearance has barely changed over the centuries. Even today each individual glass bottle is hand made by one of Rémy Martin’s 11 artisans.

Les rendez-vous de la maison Rémy Martin

Rémy Martin offers a variety of packages for those wishing to learn more about the brand and its heritage. They range from visits to its Merpins estate, to trips to its Touzac distillery where you can also taste the famous Cognac and enjoy haute cuisine meals courtesy of the Michelin starred chef Philippe Saint-Romas.

Discovert it on www.visitesremymartin.com

Tastings at George V or the Hôtel Meurice

To taste the exceptional Louis XIII yourself, or in fact any Rémy Martin product, we recommend the George V and the Hôtel Meurice, both of which have strong links with the brand.

Bar de l’hôtel George V

31 avenue George V

75008 PARIS

(open until 2a.m)

Bar de l’hôtel Meurice

228 Rue de Rivoli

75001 Paris, France

(open until 2a.m)

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