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Sipping the World’s Oldest Cognac: The Mystery of Napoleon’s Flask
If you are a connoisseur of fine spirits, you may have heard of Louis XIII de Remy Martin, one of the most celebrated brands of cognac in the world. Made from a unique blend of up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie (distilled wines) aged from 40 to over 100 years in French Limousin oak barrels, this luxurious liquor is renowned for its rich aroma, complex flavor, and smooth texture. However, what you may not know is that there is a special edition of Louis XIII that claims to contain a drop of history: the world’s oldest cognac, dating back to 1562.
This extraordinary elixir, known as Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, is stored in a crystal decanter inspired by a metallic flask allegedly owned by Napoleon Bonaparte himself. According to the legend, when Napoleon was exiled to the island of Saint Helena in 1815, he brought some of his favorite liquors with him, including a flask of fine cognac. One day, he shared a sip of this precious potion with his loyal servant, who later sold the flask to a British officer named Captain Henry Masham. Masham kept the flask for over 60 years, until he gave it as a gift to a French healer named Monsieur Gautier in gratitude for curing his son’s illness. Gautier treasured the flask as a symbol of his faith and kept it hidden in a cellar beneath his house in Cognac, where he also stored some rare casks of cognac from the 17th and 18th centuries.
Fast forward to the 21st century, when a team of experts from Remy Martin discovered Gautier’s cellar and recognized the potential of the aged cognac. After careful analysis, they selected a few barrels that had survived the test of time and blended them into a special batch that showcased the distinctive qualities of each eau-de-vie. The resulting cognac was deemed worthy of the name Rare Cask 42,6, which refers to the precise latitude of the Remy Martin estate in the Grande Champagne region and the degree of alcohol content.
Now, you may wonder: how can anyone prove that this cognac is really the oldest in the world, let alone that it comes from Napoleon’s flask? After all, there are no written records or verifiable samples from the 16th century that can confirm its identity or age. Moreover, cognac, like other spirits, does not mature while in a container (such as a flask or a decanter), but in contact with air and wood in a barrel. Therefore, any claim about the age or quality of a liquor stored in a sealed container should be treated with skepticism.
However, the makers of Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6 have taken some measures to support their story with some evidence, albeit circumstantial. For example, they have cited the expert opinions of historians, such as the late British writer and brandy connoisseur Ian Buxton, who suggested that Napoleon may well have owned a flask of cognac that could have survived until the 19th century. They have also pointed out the fact that Gautier had a reputation for collecting rare and valuable objects, as evidenced by his collection of rocks and fossils from around the world. In addition, they have relied on the sensory expertise of their master blender, Baptiste Loiseau, who claims to detect the subtle nuances of the aged eaux-de-vie in the Rare Cask 42,6 and to appreciate their harmony and complexity.
Of course, none of these arguments can prove beyond doubt that the world’s oldest cognac is indeed in the Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, let alone that Napoleon himself tasted it. However, as the makers of the brand acknowledge, the story of the flask and its alleged contents has become part of the lore of cognac, and adds a touch of mystery and romanticism to the art of blending and enjoying fine spirits.
Whether you believe in the legend or not, there is no denying that cognac, especially the Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, is a treasure that can offer an exquisite sensory experience and a glimpse of history. Each sip of this amber liquid may evoke the flavors and aromas of centuries past, and the spirits of those who savored them. Moreover, drinking cognac can also be a social ritual that brings people together and promotes conviviality, as Napoleon knew well. Therefore, if you ever have a chance to taste the world’s oldest cognac, or any other fine spirit, savor it slowly, share it generously, and appreciate it as a bridge between past and present, between cultures and peoples. Cheers to that!
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Sipping the World’s Oldest Cognac: The Mystery of Napoleon’s Flask
If you are a connoisseur of fine spirits, you may have heard of Louis XIII de Remy Martin, one of the most celebrated brands of cognac in the world. Made from a unique blend of up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie (distilled wines) aged from 40 to over 100 years in French Limousin oak barrels, this luxurious liquor is renowned for its rich aroma, complex flavor, and smooth texture. However, what you may not know is that there is a special edition of Louis XIII that claims to contain a drop of history: the world’s oldest cognac, dating back to 1562.
The Legend of Napoleon’s Flask
This extraordinary elixir, known as Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, is stored in a crystal decanter inspired by a metallic flask allegedly owned by Napoleon Bonaparte himself. According to the legend, when Napoleon was exiled to the island of Saint Helena in 1815, he brought some of his favorite liquors with him, including a flask of fine cognac. One day, he shared a sip of this precious potion with his loyal servant, who later sold the flask to a British officer named Captain Henry Masham. Masham kept the flask for over 60 years, until he gave it as a gift to a French healer named Monsieur Gautier in gratitude for curing his son’s illness. Gautier treasured the flask as a symbol of his faith and kept it hidden in a cellar beneath his house in Cognac, where he also stored some rare casks of cognac from the 17th and 18th centuries.
The Mystery of the Oldest Cognac
Now, you may wonder: how can anyone prove that this cognac is really the oldest in the world, let alone that it comes from Napoleon’s flask? After all, there are no written records or verifiable samples from the 16th century that can confirm its identity or age. Moreover, cognac, like other spirits, does not mature while in a container (such as a flask or a decanter), but in contact with air and wood in a barrel. Therefore, any claim about the age or quality of a liquor stored in a sealed container should be treated with skepticism.
The Evidence and the Legend
However, the makers of Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6 have taken some measures to support their story with some evidence, albeit circumstantial. For example, they have cited the expert opinions of historians, such as the late British writer and brandy connoisseur Ian Buxton, who suggested that Napoleon may well have owned a flask of cognac that could have survived until the 19th century. They have also pointed out the fact that Gautier had a reputation for collecting rare and valuable objects, as evidenced by his collection of rocks and fossils from around the world. In addition, they have relied on the sensory expertise of their master blender, Baptiste Loiseau, who claims to detect the subtle nuances of the aged eaux-de-vie in the Rare Cask 42,6 and to appreciate their harmony and complexity.
The Value and the Pleasure of Cognac
Of course, none of these arguments can prove beyond doubt that the world’s oldest cognac is indeed in the Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, let alone that Napoleon himself tasted it. However, as the makers of the brand acknowledge, the story of the flask and its alleged contents has become part of the lore of cognac, and adds a touch of mystery and romanticism to the art of blending and enjoying fine spirits.
Whether you believe in the legend or not, there is no denying that cognac, especially the Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6, is a treasure that can offer an exquisite sensory experience and a glimpse of history. Each sip of this amber liquid may evoke the flavors and aromas of centuries past, and the spirits of those who savored them. Moreover, drinking cognac can also be a social ritual that brings people together and promotes conviviality, as Napoleon knew well. Therefore, if you ever have a chance to taste the world’s oldest cognac, or any other fine spirit, savor it slowly, share it generously, and appreciate it as a bridge between past and present, between cultures and peoples. Cheers to that!
(Photo by Jess and Colin on Flickr, Creative Commons License)
Keywords: cognac, Louis XIII, Rare Cask, history, Napoleon, flask, legend, evidence, taste, pleasure, conviviality
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