Your cart is currently empty!
The history of Cognac stretches back to the 1600s. Story has it that wine exported from the region to Holland was deemed unsatisfactory. The Dutch had already begun distilling gin, so they began distilling the wine they were receiving, too. As they took notice in France, winemakers then shifted to distillation themselves.
Some of the largest brands formed quite early. For instance, this year offered notable anniversaries for two: Martell, the oldest continually operational Cognac brand, with a history stretching back to 1715, celebrated its 300th anniversary; and Hennessy, with its own history stretching to 1765, celebrated its 250th birthday. While it’s not a celebratory year for Rémy Martin, the brand’s history stretches back nearly as far as Martell’s, to 1724.
Today, Hennessy is by far the largest distiller, accounting for roughly 46 percent of all Cognac production. They’re followed by Martell, Rémy Martin and Courvoisier. Of the four biggest players, therefore, Courvoisier is the “newest” on the scene—those young guns were founded in 1809 and didn’t get started in the Cognac region until 1828.
Baron Otard Cognac dates back to 1795. The brand is unavailable in the United States, however it’s the producer of the Jay-Z backed D’USSÉ. Baron Otard calls the Château de Cognac it’s home, which is the actual 12th century castle which was used to fortify the city of Cognac. Nothing shouts history more than centuries-old, spider web and moss covered barrels stashed away in the recesses of a castle’s nooks and crannies.
