Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII Black Pearl Anniversary Edition
A highly structured, ultra-decadent cognac wrapped in a Baccarat decanter
Former cellar master George Clot said, “When you discover Louis XIII, you become a different man,” an adage that only scratches at the surface of the legacy of Rémy Martin’s Louis XIII cognac. Louis XIII was first created in 1874 by Emile Rémy Martin, and has since become a favorite spirit of royal courts and hip-hop moguls alike, the ultimate symbols of sophisticated and luxurious imbibing.
To celebrate the 140th anniversary of Louis XIII, the House of Rémy Martin has released a limited edition Louis XIII Black Pearl Anniversary Edition cognac pulled from the Hériard Dubreuil family’s private cellars. An exceptional tierçon (the type of Limousin French Oak barrel used to blend and age the cognac) was selected for the limited edition release, with 775 decanters available worldwide.
Louis XIII cognac is made from a blend of eau de vies that are distilled from grapes grown in the Grande Champagne region of Cognac, France (which is different than the Champagne province). Cognac is blended inside the tierçon, each year different barrels of different ages are married together and then left to age for another year—a process takes over 100 years to complete. The final cognac is a blend of over 1200 eau de vies that range in age from 40 to 100 years.
The result is transcendent. Louis XIII is delicate and highly structured, a gorgeous perfume of apricot, yellow raisin, pear, honey, saffron, with a touch of oak and incense. Within five minutes of being exposed to the air, the nose of the cognac opens to reveal flavors of honeycrisp apples, stone fruits, and wildflowers. Just a small drop on the tongue explodes with flavors of fruity stone fruits balanced with oak, creamy honey, spice, leather, chocolate, fig, mint and a delightful acidic finish that lingers on the palate.
The Louis XIII Black Pearl is bottled in a mesmerizing Baccarat decanter plated with thin layers of titanium, carbon, and gold that are layered upon one another. The process was designed by the House of Baccarat to be reminiscent of the original metal flask that was found in 1850 on the site of the battle of Jarnac and served as inspiration for the iconic Louis XIII bottles.
Louis XIII Black Pearl Anniversary Edition is available through Rémy Martin partner outlets for a suggested retail price of $16,000.
Images courtesy of Rémy Martin
