In the realm of luxury libations and spirits, nothing says ‘blue blood’ like a snifter of cognac. Engage in tumbler talk like a seasoned expert with our list of the most expensive cognac in the world.
Like many expensive spirits in the world, cognac has a long and storied history well deserving of love. From the locale in which it is produced to the ingredients used, high-quality and authentic cognac is incomparably prized by collectors and connoisseurs, many of which are prepared to pay top dollar. The level of fanfare the spirit enjoys certainly merits the staggering price tags the bottles can fetch. But just how much is the most expensive cognac in the world worth?
What is cognac?
To appreciate the value and worth of cognac, one must first dive into its provenance and production methods. Like champagne, which is essentially sparkling wine made in the Champagne wine region of France, cognacs are produced and named for brandy produced in the commune of Cognac in France. And while it’s not uncommon to substitute cognac with brandy in the realm of cooking, true aficionados of the spirit will know the difference.
In essence, cognac is a variety of brandy that is produced through the distillation of white wine — and thus, its chief ingredient is grapes. All cognacs fall under the French appellation d’origine contrôlée (AOC) designation; in order for a brandy to be legally named a cognac, it must be produced in accordance with stringent methods, from the use of specified varietals of grapes to itsdistillation and aging process.
For cognac to be considered a true ‘cru’ cognac, the wine from which it is distilled must be produced from at least 90 percent Ugni Blanc, Folle blanche, and Colombard grapes. The other 10 percent may include Folignan, Jurançon blanc, Meslier St-François, Sélect, Montils, or Sémillon grapes. While it is possible to produce Cognac with different percentages insofar as the grape varietals are concerned, the list of permitted varietals does not change, and the resultant spirit cannot carry the name ‘cru’.
Once wine has been produced from the grapes, it is twice-distilled in Charentais copper alembic stills that adhere to strictly controlled designs and dimensions. It must then be aged in French oak barrels from Limousin or Tronçais before it can be bottled and put on the shelves.
Brandy vs Cognac: What’s the difference?
While cognac is a type of brandy, the same cannot be said in reverse, and not all brandy is cognac. In its truest form, brandy is a spirit that is distilled from fermented fruit juice — including grapes. However, while the production of cognac is strictly limited to grapes, brandy can be produced using other fruits including apples, pears, cherries, plums, apricots, and peaches, among others.
The breadth of possibilities where brandy ingredients are concerned allow for the emergence of different flavour profiles, which once produced, become incomparable to the taste, aroma, and experience of cognac tasting.
In short, while both brandy and cognac are luxurious refreshments to savour in their own right, only the latter can boast of exclusivity, with flavours that can be dry, sweet, spicy, fruity, or even bitter. In savouring a snifter of cognac, connoisseurs would be able to pick out herbal and floral hints like jasmine, white and yellow flowers, and violets; they may also discover notes of fresh, dried, and even candied fruit, as well as sweet spices the likes of vanilla, cinnamon, and star anise.
As with wines, one can expect different tasting notes with different cognacs, owing to different blends and the topography and soil of the vineyards upon which the grapes are produced.
With all the exclusivity surrounding cognac, it’s no wonder that these luxurious decanters have racked up huge price points. Want to know the highest prices they have fetched in sales? Read on for ourlist of the most expensive bottles of cognac that have ever been sold in the world.
The most expensive bottles of cognac in the world
Louis XIII de Rémy Martin Rare Cask42.6— USD 23,000
With a mere 738 decanters produced, the Louis XIIIRare Cask 42.6 echoes luxury in every way. Boasting an exquisite profile exuding autumnal whispers, it is rich with the flavours of nuts, dried fruits, plums, prune stones, and dates, beautifully melded with the warmth of gingerbread and tobacco leaf. Contained within precious black Baccarat crystal decanters adorned with 22k engraved rose gold rings, they are luxury incarnate, retailing at a staggering USD 23,000.
Rémy MartinLouis XIII Black Pearl Grande Champagne Cognac – USD 40,000
Yet another luxurious and ultra-rare offering (only 778 decanters were produced) from the Rémy Martin brand is the Louis XIII Black Pearl Grande Champagne Cognac, which is sold for about USD 40,000 today. Blended from up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie from the Grand Champagne region, that is then aged for several decades in the ‘C100-29’, acentury-old Limousin oak tierçon. The resultant cognacis the premier cru of cognac, reflecting the age-old traditions and heritage that accompanies the production of the spirit. Inspired by the original Louis XIII metal decanter that was modelled after a flask discovered by a peasant in 1850, the Black Pearl is uniquely presented, as beautiful to look at as it is to savour.
Louis XIII de Rémy MartinRare Cask 42.1 — USD 50,000
The first special release luxury cognac producers from Rémy Martin in a decade, the Louis XIII Cognac Rare Cask 42.1 holds a special place in the world of Cognacs, aged in a rare tierçon made from French oaks that take 100 years to reach maturity. Presented in a black Baccarat crystal decanter that is made with the simultaneous efforts of 20 craftsmen, the decanter is opulence incarnate, featuring gold and rhodium finishing around the neck and a ring engraved with quadrilobed patterns that pay tribute to the fleur de lis. With just 775 numbered decanters available worldwide, it is a rare find that reflects luxury.
Courvoisier & Curlier Vintage Grande Champagne Cognac —USD 120,000
The oldest Courvoirsier cognac known to survive today, this well-aged bottle was put up for sale forGBP 95,000 (Approx. USD 120,000)in 2012 at UK’s L’Atelier de Courvoisier in the Harrods Wine Shop. Bottled over 200 years ago in 1789, the bottle was produced from Folle lanche grapes from the Premier Cru district of Grande Champagne, making it an extremely rare and valuable find.
Gautier Cognac 1762 —USD 144,525
Yet another historical decanter that has survived the French revolution, the Gautier Cognac 1762 wears a badge of honour as the ‘oldest cognac vintage ever sold at auction’. Listed by Sothesby’s in an online-only sale in May 2020, it went on to fetch a winning bid of USD 144,525 from a collector in Asia, making it one of the most expensive bottles of cognac ever sold. To note: 1762 was a year of numerous historical events, including the official entry of Britain into the Seven Years’ War against Spain and Naples, the crowning of Catherine II as the empress of Russia, and the holding of the first St Patrick’s Day Parade in New York City.
According to Sothesby’s, the cognac is believed to have been bottled in the 1840s, and is nicknamed ‘Grand Frère’, as the largest bottle in a trio belonging to the same family, who wished to remain anonymous. The smallest, ‘Petite Soeur’, sits on display at Maison Gautier in Cognac, while the other, ‘Petit Frère’, fetched GBP 48,000 (Approx. USD 60,625) at a 2014 auction in New York.
Cognac Brugerolle 1795 —USD 156,032
In 2012, a Dutch collector put up his priceless collection of rare cognac and other spirits for auction. The collection is said to be the ‘largest collection of old liquors in the world’, containing around 5,000 bottles that include cognac, whisky, armagnac, and various other liquors.With some decanters dating back to the French Revolution, one in particular stood out: the Cognac Brugerolle 1795, which experts claim accompanied iconic French conquerer Napoleon Bonaparte on his conquests.
According to experts, the Brugerolle vintageserved to cap off the Emperor’s wartime victories, and it is the last surviving bottle of its kind. At the auction, it raked in over GBP123,538(Approx. USD 156,032), making it one of the most expensive bottles of cognac ever sold.
Croizet Cognac Cuvée Léonie 1858—USD156,700
Once the record holder for the most expensive cognac in the world, this1858 Cognac Croizet Cuvée Léonieis a single harvest bottle out of the Grande Champagne region, produced before the Phylloxera disease that almost destroyed France’s cognac industry. Worthy of a place in history, itwas present in the Titanic, and is believed to be what Eisenhower and Churchill imbibed as they planned out their World War II victory. Bottled in 1859 from grapes of the 1858 harvest, the vintage is housed in its original vessel, a yellow-brown blown glass bottle that still bears traces of dust and dirt from the Paradis cave in which it was matured. In an auction held in 2011, it sold for USD 156,700, making it one of the most expensive cognacs in the world.
Rémy MartinLouis XIII L’Odyssee D’un Roi Cognac—USD 235,000
Presented in 2015 in a limited quantity of a mere three bottles, the L’Odyssee D’un Roi is a testament to the long and storied heritage of Louis XIII cognac. Created by50 expert artisans over 1,000 arduous hours, the luxurious bespoke masterpieces were showcased at exclusive events in a yearlong travelling exhibition, making waves among cognac connoisseurs in New York, Hong Kong, and Europe. Within the elegant decanters are a blend of the oldest eau du vie brandy of the time, allegedly tasted only by the cellar master.
Beyond the cognac, the presentation of the trio reflects the tradition of luxury championed by Rémy Martin. It was French luxury goods house Hermès that designed and produced the grey Togo veal leather coffrets that the masterpieces were presented in, while renowned crystal makers Saint-Louis produced three magnum decanters and twelve glasses, each hand-etched with maps of 19th century Europe, Asia, and North America. Each decanter was also accompanied by a white gold pipette from Puiforcat. Further solidifying the trio’s place in Cognac history, each decanter was etched to reflect the continent it was bound for.
The decanters were auctioned by Sotheby’s, where they fetched varying figures that amounted to a total of USD 558,000. In New York, the Americas edition fetched USD 134,750, whilst the Hong Kong edition fetched USD 188,250. To complete the sale of the trio, the Europe edition fetched a staggering USD 235,000.
Les Remarquables de Martell — USD 1.07 million
One of two cognacs to have broached the million-dollar mark, Les Remarquables de Martell is a one-of-a-kind masterwork imbued with luxury and grandeur, qualities that have long been associated with the elegant and the ultra-rich. Blending two 70-year-old eaux-de-vie individually selected by Martell’s cellar master Christophe Valtaud, Les Remarquables de Martell is housed within a dame-jeanne that recalls high art.
Crafted by macrame master Laurentine Perilhou, the vessel reflects the journey from root to grape, with golden thread woven together in a masterful tribute to nature and terroir. Valued at USD 1.07 million, the decanter’s iconic design also incorporates three synthetic sapphires and a diamond set in 22k gold, lending it an incomparable glitter and shine. “My aim was to make the invisible visible,” Perilhou shared in a statement, adding, “from the Earth to the Sun, from the roots in the soil to the vine leaves turned upwards to the light.”
In terms of tasting notes, Les Remarquables de Martell is the marriage of two expressions from the Grande Champagne cru, distilled over 70 years ago. The first boasts powerful cedar tasting notes with tension and length on the palate, owing to its longer aging period. The second, however, is fresher, boasting softer floral, honey, and candied fruit notes. The resultant blend is exquisite, providing an experience to savour that any cognac collector or connoisseur is certain to remember.
Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne — USD 1.9 million
If this bottle of cognac looks familiar to you, you’ve probably seen it featured prominently in Netflix’s Fall of the House of Usher. Where this royal libation is concerned, the vessel in which it is presented is as opulent as the golden spirit within —100 cl of amber-gold Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne, aged for over a decade to allow its incomparable flavours to develop to mellow perfection.
Crafted by renowned jeweller Jose Davalos, the glittering decanter takes centre stage, a magnum opus that reflects fine spirits and the luxury afforded of the über wealthy. Dipped in 24k yellow gold and sterling platinum, the extravagant vessel isencrusted in a jaw-dropping 6,500 certified brilliant-cut diamonds.Weighing in at an impressive8 kg, the decanter was designed by President of Ley .925 & Co.,Fernando Altamirano, and was reportedly sold for close to USD 2 million.
(Main image: Marius W. Hansen for Louis XIII, Martell; featured image: Martell)
Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)
– What is the most expensive cognac there is?
The most expensive cognac in the world is the Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne, which was reportedly sold for USD 1.9 million.
– What is the number 1 cognac?
Top cognac brands include Rémy Martin, Hennessy, Martell, and Courvoisier.
– Why is Louis the 13th cognac so expensive?
Louis XIII cognac is produced with great attention to detail, adhering to stringent production methods that include skilled and time-intensive labour, high-quality ingredients, and rare materials.
– Why is cognac more expensive?
Cognac generally holds a higher price point compared to brandy, as it is produced in adherence to stringent and legally binding guidelines.
