Dining

High spirits: extraordinary Louis XIII rare cask 42.1 cognac limited to just 775 bottles

Louis XIII by The House of Rémy Martin Rare Cask 42.1 decanter and glass on a barrel

Louis XIII by The House of Rémy Martin has announced the release of Rare Cask 42.1.  This exceptional cognac is limited to just 775 distinctive black crystal decanters worldwide, and is available to buy exclusively at the Louis XIII boutique at Harrods, London

The size of Rare Cask 42.1 is 70 cl, and each bottle is priced at £47,000. A rare treasure indeed!

The tierçon containing the liquid was discovered in the cellars of the Domaine du Grollet, part of an historic collection of eaux-de-vie distilled from the terroir of Cognac Grande Champagne, from which Louis XIII cognac originates. 

The tierçon containing the rare liquid was discovered in the cellars of the Domaine du Grollet…

It was uncovered by Baptiste Loiseau, fifth-generation Cellar Master. “A year ago, I noticed something subtle and extraordinary about a singular tierçon,” he recalls about the once in a lifetime discovery.  “It had been almost ten years since discovering the last Rare Cask, and then the gift from nature came.” 

Former Cellar Master Pierrette Trichet discovered Rare Cask 43.8 in 2004. Together, Loiseau and Pierette Trichet uncovered Rare Cask 42.6 in 2009. 

As for tasting notes, Loiseau says Rare Cask 42.1 has “a very specific nose and palate sensations that creates a perfect point of balance.” 

Each tierçon is crafted from French oak trees that take over 100 years to reach maturity. The tierçon in question is credited with “an enigmatic and unpredictable aromatic character,” a truly unique expression. It’s bottled at 42.1% ABV.  

A Cellar Master’s lifelong mission is to uphold the Louis XIII legacy, which includes the meticulous tasting of the eaux-de-vie as they mature; the liquid changes to become more intense.

“In order to discover Rare Cask 42.1, I listened to my instincts and favoured emotion over science. I called upon my memories. It took me back to my childhood and my roots here in Cognac. No other spirit  can transport you back into the past and evoke such strong emotions as a Rare Cask of Louis XIII,”  he says.

For such a unique expression, a unique decanter is demanded. For this rare cask release, the decanter has been made using rare black crystal handcrafted by Baccarat, its dark finish is said to be flawless and jewel-like. 

As part of the process, twenty master craftsmen collaborated to finish more than fifty different operations while the glass was still at the required temperature. The decanter is dressed in a gold and rhodium finished neck, while the ring is finely engraved with quadrilobe patterns in reference to France’s fleur de lys. 

The black crystal decanter is accompanied by Pillet crystal glasses decorated with black quatrefoils and a serving pipette featuring a black medallion.  

The tasting of this Rare Cask 42.1 will be made possible through a crafted experience in thirteen carefully selected locations around the world, including the recently refurbished Vesper Bar at The  Dorchester in London, and locations and venues yet to be revealed across Paris, Zurich, Dubai, Miami, Las Vegas, Los  Angeles, New York, and Kuala Lumpur.  

Harrods offers a range of Louis XIII cognacs here, priced from £800 to £98,000. 

About Steve May

Creator of Home Cinema Choice magazine, and editor of The Luxe Review, Steve muses and reviews for Trusted Reviews, T3, Yahoo UK, Home Cinema Choice, Games Radar, Ideal Home, Louder Sounds, Channel News and Boat International. He’s also the editor of professional home cinema website Inside CI. He's on Twitter and Instagram as @SteveMay_UK

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