Maison Martell Makes Cognac History with the Les Fûts Uniques de Martell Series
Cognac is traditionally a blend of aged eaux-de-vie, encompassing different vintages and different cognac terroirs. Some cognacs contain just a few eaux-de-vie, while others can contain dozens, even hundreds. Either way, cognac is a showcase for the master blender, who takes those different eaux-de-vie and combines them to create a finished product that’s beautiful, harmonious, unforgettable, and constant.
But what if we were able to taste those eaux-de-vie individually? And not just any eaux-de-vie, but the rarest, most precious, and most prized examples—the cornerstones of a truly great cognac. Now, for the first time, Maison Martell, the oldest of the major cognac houses and one of the most celebrated and prestigious, for the last three centuries, presents Les Fûts Uniques de Martell, the first cask program ever launched by a major cognac house. Starting in September 2024, a few fortunate connoisseurs will be able to acquire a cask of four of the crown jewels in Martell’s vast collection of eaux-de-vie, personally selected by Martell’s ninth Cellar Master, Christophe Valtaud. The personalized presentation of the liquid, and the experiences surrounding it, are an apt celebration of Martell’s 309 years and counting of tradition, heritage, and savoir faire.
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Starting in 2024, a new selection of eaux-de-vie—each one aged in a single cask in a single cellar—will be released in the annual Les Fûts Uniques de Martell collection. Each eau-de-vie will be released one time only, making each collection truly unique. The initial four selections, meticulously selected by Valtaud over a rigorous process, have been taken from Martell’s Réserve Héritage, a special reserve of eaux-de-vie singled out for their quality and rarity, and comprising less than 2 percent of the Maison’s complete holdings, which total 12,000 individual eaux-de-vie. All four Les Fûts Uniques de Martell eaux-de-vie come from the two most prestigious terroirs of Cognac, Borderies and Grande Champagne, and were produced by members of the Martell family or by one of Valtaud’s predecessors.
Martell’s Heritage, Expressed in a Quartet of Casks
These historic eaux-de-vie were aged between 27 and 32 years in Martell cellars in fine-grained oak casks, with the Cellar Master overseeing the aging process and guiding them along to ensure the ideal aromatic fullness. The ABV of the eaux-de-vie in Les Fûts Uniques de Martell is higher than in standard bottled cognacs, which makes the tasting experience even more distinctive.
Martell Borderies 27 Years Old (43% ABV) is a 268-liter cask produced by the Firino-Martell family and brought into the Martell reserve by Patrick Raguenaud, the fifth cellar master.
Martell Grande Champagne 30 Years Old (48% ABV) is another 268-liter cask produced by the Firino-Martell family and included in the Martell reserve by Pierre Frugier, the fourth Cellar Master.
Martell Grande Champagne 32 Years Old (43% ABV) was a 263-liter cask produced by the Firino-Martell family and selected from the Martell reserve by Frugier.
Martell Grande Champagne 32 Years Old (46% ABV) is a 265-liter cask produced by Maison Martell’s esteemed third Cellar Master, François Chapeau and brought into the Martell reserve by his successor, Frugier.
Unique Eaux-De-Vie, Unique Presentations, Unique Experiences
Purchasing one of the casks is just the first step in the journey. After its selection, the liquid is transferred from the oak into contemporary-styled montre bottles, a reinterpretation of the traditional flasks long used for cognac. Each bottle is housed in its own wooden case. The purchaser gets to choose from a number of personalized customizations for both the bottles and the cases, from gold-stamped text on the bottles to specific nuances of wood on the boxes to leather finishes for the closure—a unique opportunity to add one’s own stamp to Martell’s long history of savoirf aire.
The purchaser of the cask will participate in a bespoke experience curated by the Maison, beginning in Paris with a Michelin-starred meal and an overnight stay in a palace. Then it’s off to Cognac for a behind-the-scenes look at Martell’s long heritage, including a private tour of the cellars and archives with the house archivist. A tasting of the eaux-de-vie from Les Fûts Uniques de Martell will take place with Valtaud in the Cellar Master’s private atelier, or studio. The tasting is followed by a feast prepared by Michelin-three-starred-chef Alexandre Mazzia and an overnight stay in the Château de Chanteloup, the 18th-century castle that was at one time the home of the Martell family. The trip culminates at the Château, with the final selection of the eau-de-vie and personalization options overseen by a Martell global brand ambassador.
History in a Cask
Martell has been breaking new ground and stretching boundaries in the cognac world since 1715. With Les Fûts Uniques de Martell, it takes the notion of savoir faire to new heights, and showcases the art of the Cellar Master in a way no major cognac house has ever done. For more information on these singular and historic casks and to register to acquire them, visit martell.com.
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