Whats So Special About Cognac Anyway
The story of Cognac can be traced all the way back to the 16th century. During this time, the Dutch arrived in France where they enjoyed the many fine wines there. However, when they tried to transport wine back to their homeland, they found it was hard to keep it drinkable.
For this reason, they started distilling the wine into eau-de-vie. The resulting product was known as brandewijn, which translates to burnt wine. These days, we refer to this drink as brandy.
Wine merchants began distilling their eau-de-vie twice over, allowing them to save space when they were transporting them.
Cognac houses began being formed in the 18th century starting with Martell in 1715. These houses would buy brandies from grape farmers rather than producing all of the ingredients from scratch. This practice still occurs to this day, where companies will buy eaux-de-vie or grapes that fit very strict standards.
The history of cognac continued evolving and growing as time chugged towards our current day. One major event in the history of cognac is that there was an aphid outbreak in the 1870s. While a solution was eventually found, this outbreak led to the entire plant dying and reducing the area under vine in the Cognac region from 280,000 hectares to 40,000 hectares in just two decades.
These days, cognac maintains its status as a luxurious drink. Interestingly, though, French people arent necessarily interested in drinking cognac. Instead, they prefer whiskey.
Remy Martin Black Pearl Louis Xiii
The eaux-de-vie that was used to make the seventh most expensive cognac in the world ranged from between forty and a hundred years old. This particular cognac is named after King Louis XIII, and it offers a truly unique taste that is highly structured. With notes of oak, spice, honey, leather, and chocolate, this bottle was only released in limited quantities.
The decanter of this cognac is made out of crystal with fine layers of gold, carbon, and titanium. Depending on the market, the cost of this cognac can range from $16,000 to $55,000.
Gurkha His Majestys Reserve $750/cigar
On the sixth spot, we have Gurkha His Majestys Reserve cigar. Its made each year, and if youre a cigar enthusiast, you will definitely need to preorder them a few years beforehand.
The total size of each cigar is 7-5 x 52 inches. The Connecticut Maduro wrapper comes with a Dominican binder and filler that are aged for 12 years. The filler is infused with Louis XIII cognac, which makes it have an amazing aroma. This cigar is very rare and special, and the cognac has been known for selling only to dignitaries worldwide.
A total of 75 boxes are being made every year. The incredible aroma, as well as the taste of the cigar, will be something that you will be so impressed with that you will never forget.
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Remy Martin Black Pearl Louis Xiii: $16000
This expensive Cognac was made using $1,200 eaux-de-vie ranging between forty and a hundred years old. Named after King Louis XIII, it has a structured taste with flavours of creamy honey, oak, leather, spice and chocolate. The cognac was released in limited quantities and bottled in a Baccarat crystal decanter with thin layers of titanium, carbon and gold.
Remy Martins Louis Xiii Grande Champagne Trs Vieille Age Inconnu
Price $44, 360
The purchase of this cognac in 2013 in a private sale is the first-ever invite-only sales exhibition alchol in the UK.
It comes in an older rectangular label with the original name of this cognacAge Inconnu, a 1938 Royal Banquet Card, and a Slim Centaur logo on top with spear handle pointing at the Y of Remy.
Generally, Remmy Martin uses traditional distillation Sur Lie on the lees. Aging takes place in the oak barrels of the region limousin. during this period alchol evaporates and blackens the walls of the cellars.
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Croizet Cognac Cuve Lonie 1858
ABV: 40%
Average Price: Around $157,000
What Made It Expensive: In 2015, the Guinness Book of World Records named the 1858 Croizet Cuvée Leoni the most expensive bottle of cognac.
This particular bottle was owned by Lee Tachman, a rare spirit dealer. Still, in its original packaging, this drink has dust that dates back hundreds of years.
Aside from its history, this bottle also features a pre-phylloxera blend, which is its unique characteristic, making this spirit expensive.
Delamain Is Family Owned For 9 Generations
In 1759 James Delamain came from Ireland and settled as a merchant in Jarnac at age 21. He began working for a cognac négociant named Issac Ranson, and eventually married his only daughter in 1762, which was enough to become a partner in the business. Ranson & Delamain was formed, but after James Delamains death in 1800, inheritance laws created family turmoil, resulting in liquidation in 1817. In 1824, James Delamains grandson Anne Philippe Delamain founded Maison Delamain. Today, Delamain is under the leadership of Charles Braastad, the grandson of Miss France Delamain, after Charles joined his father Alain Braadstad-Delamain and his cousin Patrick Peyrelongue in the family business.
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Louis Xiii Black Pearl
To celebrate the 140th birthday of the first brandy on this list, Remy Martin released the spectacular Louis XIII Black Pearl edition.
As you can expect from Remy Martin, this brandy bottle is almost as incredible as its flavor.
A metallic, pearlescent bottle is decorated with the brands signature fleur de Lys with rippled glass edges.
Only 775 of these amazing crystal decanters of Louis XIII Black Pearl exist. Each bottle retails for around $30,000 for a 750 mL bottle.
The most expensive brandy brands on this list are best enjoyed neat, or without ice, and at room temperature.
What Is The Most Expensive Cognac Answered
Last Updated on November 15, 2022 by Lydia Martin
Did you know that over 20,000 companies make and sell cognac globally? These houses are spread across different countries, but the best are usually found in the Cognac region in France.
But what is the most expensive cognac? Keep reading to find out.
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Croizet Cognac Cuve Lonie 1858 $156760
The granddaddy of them all, this bottle went for well over $150K at auction in China in 2011. Its the work of a lauded producer out of the Grande Champagne region of Cognac, which launched in 1805. Its impressive to think that this bottle predates Phylloxera. Perhaps even cooler, it is believed to be what Eisenhower and Churchill enjoyed as they devised the victory of the joint allies in World War II.
How Should You Drink Cognac
If youre going to treat yourself to one of these most expensive cognacs in the world, it might be a good idea to figure out how youre going to drink it.
For such pricey bottles, youll probably want to think about trying a glass neat or on the rocks. After all, when a drink is costing you tens of thousands of dollars, its better to taste the real deal.
If youre going with a more reasonably priced bottle, though, you have other options.
You might consider making cognac-based cocktails. You can replace the base ingredients in classic cocktails such as the Tom Collins, the Manhattan, or the Mint Julip. If youre looking for an after-dinner drink, try a dry cocktail such as the Sazerac or the Sidecar.
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$250 For A Shot Louis Xiii The Maker Of The One Of The Worlds Most Expensive Cognac Has Unveiled A Decanter That Will Be Served Only At The Worlds Most Elite Nightclubs
If youre a party person and are likely to visit one of the elite nightclubs of the world, youre in for some luck! Louis XIII has recently launched the Ultra-Rare Read Decanter N°XIII, which will exclusively be made available in select locations across the globe.The rare N°XIII experience is limited to one decanter per club per night, which means that only 0.0000038361% of people worldwide will have the chance to experience the rare cognac. The individually numbered N°XIII red crystal decanter comes with six tailored red crystal glasses on a tray, made in collaboration with SaintLouis, the oldest glass manufacturer in Europe.
The luxe decanter further features the LOUIS XIII signature dentelle spikes and a palladium neck and is blown, cut, decorated, and engraved by hand. To make the experience all the more premium, the cognac is served using a special cognac pipette or the Spear to prolong the dropbydrop service ritual.
To order the N°XIII Experiences, connoisseurs will need to log on to LOUIS XIII Society a private members club for owners of LOUIS XIII Cognac decanters or visit any one of the select nightclubs wherein a LOUIS XIII Brand Ambassador will arrange the unique rendezvous for them. As the press release of the N°XIII reads, Time is the raw material of LOUIS XIII and N°XIII allows the brand to explore a whole new expression of time.
Delamain Is Made Exclusively From Grand Champagne Eaux
With five different crus in the cognac region, the most prestigious and exclusive is Grande Champagne. The gentle slope and unique chalky soil of the region produce the very best grapes, and Grande Champagne is only 3.2% of the total cognac appellation, but is the most heavily planted with 32,904 acres of vines .
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Frapin’s Chteau Fontpinot Xo Is The Best Of The Best
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Liquors / Chloe Jeong
Cognac is the spirit you should be reaching for and drinking now, says certified cognac educator Ms. Franky Marshall. Thats, in part, because of its diversity. Made from grapesprimarily high-acid, low-alcohol ugni blanc varietythat are fermented, twice-distilled, and then matured in oak barrels before blending and bottling, this brandy from Frances Cognac region is not just for sipping after dinner by the fire. In fact, its one of the widest-ranging spirits categories out there.
Much of the difference between bottles has to do with how long they are aged. Younger VS, or very special, cognac is blended from brandies at least two years old, while an XO cognac, or “extra-old” cognac, gets its rich depth because it must be aged at least six years. The VSOP, or very superior old pale cognacs, blended from four-year and older brandies, are right in the middle, with characteristics of both youth and age.
We consulted with our experts and have curated the best cognacs to get right now. Thanks to its balanced flavors and intense aromatics, Frapin’s Château Fontpinot XO is our top pick.
Read on for our complete list to find your next favorite cognac.
Most Expensive Cognacs In The World
August 25, 2022 by nneoma
Just last year, Cognac sales in China leapt by an extraordinary 56%. In 2021, a total of 223.2 million bottles of Cognac were shifted globally.
The most expensive cognacs ever sold in the world have the rarest bottles at some mind-boggling prices. Cognac rich history is traceable to the 16th century in France. It came into existence when travellers from the Netherlands realized that they need to find a means of preserving their drinks.
Cognac has various flavours with caramel, vanilla, fruit, and honey being the most common. Even the least bottle of cognac offers that delightful taste although more expensive bottles of cognac are best suited for cognac enthusiasts.
This article will explore and dwell on the most expensive cognacs ever sold in history. However, you can still get that unique taste from cheap and affordable cognacs.
The table of contents below highlights the order in which these expensive cognacs are discussed.
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A Bottle Of $22000 Cognac Arrives At The Four Seasons
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Its not unusual to see a Rolls Royce pull into the drive of the Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills. But the passenger of a creamy-colored Rolls Royce Ghost limo that arrived at the hotel on Thursday afternoon wasnt a celebrity, dignitary or sheik it was a bottle of Cognac.
The Baccarat Cristallerie-designed bottle, only 738 of which were produced, will reside at the hotels Windows Lounge, where a pour will start at $1,000 for one-half-ounce. The opaque black crystal bottles will retail for $22,000 each.
Why does it cost so much? Like all Rémy Martin, Rare Cask 42,6 is made with grapes from the Grande Champagne vineyards of western Frances Cognac region, considered to produce the best eaux de vie , which are blended and aged in oak barrels to make Cognac. And like most Cognac houses, Rémy Martin has barrels of the stuff in its cellars dating back to the 19th century, to be blended by a maitre de chai, or master taster, and sold for lots of money.
All Louis XIII de Rémy Martin is a blend of 1,200 eaux de vie between 40 and 100 years old, aged in oak barrels that are several hundred years old it costs about $2,400 a bottle at BevMo. A good ol Rémy Martin XO aged at least 22 years costs $145.
A few years ago Rémy Martin released Louis XIII Rare Cask 43,8 for about $15,000 a bottle, the first of the Louis XIII Rare Cask series from supremely rare barrels that cellar master Pierrette Trichet discovered only recently .
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Best Vsop: Bisquit & Dubouch Vsop
Courtesy of ReserveBar
Region: Cognac, France | ABV: 40% | Tasting notes: Apple pie, Fig, Caramel, Spiced tea
What could be more exciting than a 200-year-old cognac brand that is just now making its way across The Pond? Claiming a unique distilling process, the producers of Bisquit & Dubouché continuously taste the distillate as it comes off the still, cutting the heart portion much later than other houses do. This results in a harmony of aromas and flavors: seductive vanilla and caramel, smooth notes of honey, fig, and dark fruits, says David Anderson, lead bartender at Death & Co. Denver.
Though Anderson finds this VSOP delicious on the rocks or neat, he prefers to get creative with it in autumnal cocktails especially, where it develops notes of apple pie, roasted peach, and spiced tea.
Region: Cognac, France | ABV: 40% | Tasting Notes: Oak, Brine, Earth, Smoke
Ehrmann calls this bottle the Islay of Cognac, for its oceanic flavors akin to those in the whiskey of the Scottish island.
Region: Cognac, France | ABV: 42.3% | Tasting Notes: Figs, Dates, Oak, Wine
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The Worlds Most Expensive Champagne Sold For $25 Millionand Yes It Came With Nfts
A pair of Italian crypto bros have bought the worlds most expensive bottle of Champagne, but they have no plans to drink it anytime soon.
Cryptocurrency investors Giovanni and Piero Buono paid $2.5 million for a bottle of Champagne Avenue Foch in a recent private sale and they got more than just a magnum of bubbles, the Wall Street Journal first reported. Along with the blend of premier cru grapes, the bottle comes decorated with five drawings by Mig, the artist behind the Bored Ape Yacht Club and Sneaky Vampire Syndicates artwork. Each of those renderings will be transferred to the brothers digitally, too, as non-fungible tokens that they will fully own.
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Despite the cratering NFT marketwhere the Bored Ape Yacht Clubs price floor fell 33 percent in June, for examplethe brothers still saw value in the Champagne Avenue Foch offering.
I dont plan to drink it, I think it will be a good investment, Giovanni told the Wall Street Journal. There is a lot of turmoil in the investment world, things are changing geopolitically very quickly. Wealthy people will look for places to store their wealth for a whileand that could be a Champagne with an NFT attached to it.
Champagne Avenue Foch
This wont be Shinhs last foray with his Champagne Avenue Foch. Hes planning a series of additional Champagnes with NFTs for which hes launched a wait list on the Avenue Foch site.
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Lecompte Secret Calvados France
Forgotten barrels of brandy nestled deep in the cellar of the Lecompte distillery fermented for nearly 85 years before discovery.
After this unveiling, Lecompte got to work to produce an unforgettable calvados brandy using this untouched eaux-de-vie distilled by the distillerys founder in the early 1920s.
Calvados brandy is typically made from apples and is a close relative to cider. Most other brandies, like grappa and cognac, are made from fermented grape mash.
This fruit choice gives Lecompte Secret Calvados a distinct caramel and coffee flavor with classic apple tartness and candied fruit flavors for an impeccable balance. Pick up this brandy for about $3,000 per bottle.
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Why Is Louis 13 Cognac So Expensive
Casks. The said eaux-de-vie are then matured in casks for several decades. These centennial casks are the rarest in the house of Remy Martin, and used exclusively for LOUIS XIII. These are special because their thin staves mean a unique interaction occurs among the eaux-de-vie, the air, and the wood.