Explore the opulent world of luxury cognacs, where bottles such as the Rémy Martin Black Pearl Louis XIII, priced at an astonishing £100,000, showcase a blend of 1,200 eaux-de-vie aged up to 100 years and encased in a stunning black crystal decanter by Baccarat. The 1858 Cognac Croizet Cuvée Léonie, another standout, fetched £92,000 at auction, reflecting its antique heritage. Also featured is the venerable 1762 Gautier Cognac, nearly 300 years old and sold for almost £35,000.
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- 12 Most Expensive Cognacs
- Cognac Brugerolle 1795 – £123 538
- Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne – £117m
- Rémy Martin Black Pearl Louis XIII – £100,000
- 1858 Cognac Croizet Cuvée Léonie – £92,000
- Rémy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Très Vieille Age Inconnu – £41,000
- 1762 Gautier Cognac – £35,000
- Camus Cuvee 5.150 – £11 122,65
- Hardy Perfection – £ 10,715
- Hennessy Ellipse – £9,000
- Hine 250 – £9,000
- Hardy Le Printemps – £8,225
- Delamain de Voyage – £5,000
- L’Art de Martell – £4,640
- Why Is Cognac So Expensive?
12 Most Expensive Cognacs
Cognac Brugerolle 1795 – £123 538
It is claimed that this cognac made in Brugerolle, was drunk by Napoleon Bonaparte after his conquests. It sold for more than £100,000 at a 2012 auction. This bottling is considered the last of its kind in the world. The six-litre bottle was said to have been opened by Bonaparte as a celebratory drink when victorious in battle.
Henri IV Dudognon Heritage Cognac Grande Champagne – £117m
Often called the ‘DNA of Cognac’, this 100-year-old bottling is one of the rarest and most expensive drinks on earth.
It comes in 24-carat gold and platinum bottles which are studded with 6,500 diamonds. The vintage was first produced in 1776 and was named to honour King Henri IV.
Rémy Martin Black Pearl Louis XIII – £100,000
Grapes from Grande Champagne are carefully selected for this Cognac. Black Pearl Louis XIII is made from a blend of 1,200 Eaux de vie which range in age from 40 to 100 years. This cognac is matured in a tierçon which is larger than a standard cask and handcrafted by specially trained coopers. They are made from a particular species of oak from the Limousin forests in France. The casks feature thin staves of oak.
Tierçons were originally used to transport cognac on horse-drawn carriages, three at a time. The bottle – designed by Baccarat and hand-blown from black crystal is a tribute to the signature Louis XIII decanter from the 16th century.
1858 Cognac Croizet Cuvée Léonie – £92,000
The 1858 Cognac Croizet Cuvée Léonie was bottled back in 1859 from the 1858 harvest and was sold at an auction in its original hand-blown bottle. The Croizet family’s vineyards in Grande Champagne have remained in the family since the 1500s.
Rémy Martin Louis XIII Grande Champagne Très Vieille Age Inconnu – £41,000
A decanter of Remy Martin’s Louis XIII Grande Champagne Très Vieille Age Inconnu was purchased in a private sale for £41,000 in 2013. The sale was under the auspices of a Hong Kong-based dealer in luxury goods, DFS. The sale was the first-ever sale of alcohol in the country and was by invitation only.
1762 Gautier Cognac – £35,000
One of the world’s oldest authenticated vintages of cognac, 1762 Gautier is around 300 years old. It was sold on auction for nearly £35,000 to an online bidder. It was bottled in 1840 and sports a handwritten label in cursive script.
Camus Cuvee 5.150 – £11 122,65
This cognac represents the fifth release in Camus’ master collection. With only 1,492 produced, it is housed in numbered Baccarat crystal decanters. With a blend of eaux-de-vie from five regions, the taste produced is of a mellow and creamy vanilla, mixed with tropical fruits with spicy and woody notes. It comes with two tasting glasses.
Hardy Perfection – £ 10,715
The House of Madison has been making cognac since 1863. This is the world’s only unblended cognac. Each of the limited 300 Duam crystal decanters is carefully numbered and includes a certificate of authentication. You can taste hints of coffee, chocolate, and big oak in this cognac’s complex flavour.
Hennessy Ellipse – £9,000
Hennessy Ellipse Cognac is an updated version of its predecessor, Hennessy Timeless, but with a new modern design in a Baccarat crystal decanter. Ellipse is a blend of seven Eaux-de-vie, carefully chosen by Hennessy’s cellar master. It is said to taste of crystallised fruit, wild roses and earthy tones.
Hine 250 – £9,000
Hine Cognac released a limited edition 1953 single barrel Grande Champagne Cognac in 2013 to celebrate its 250th anniversary. The decanter itself is Baccarat crystal in a design resembling a roughly-cut diamond. It is presented in an opulent wooden case, designed to look like a luxury jewellery box.
Hardy Le Printemps – £8,225
Hardy released only 4,000 bottles of its Le Printemps cognac, housed in a Lalique crystal decanter resembling an expensive bottle of perfume. It is a blend of Grande Champagne cognac going back to the early 1920s. Printemps is the first in a series of four crystal decanters, each released at two-year intervals and named after the four seasons － autumn, winter, spring and summer.
Delamain de Voyage – £5,000
The Delamain de Voyage decanter is made from Baccarat crystal inside a beautifully crafted fan-shaped wooden gift box that resembles a vintage camera’s bellows.
L’Art de Martell – £4,640
Launched in 1997 to celebrate the ceding of Hong Kong to China, Martell’s L’Art de Martell is highly coveted by cognac enthusiasts. There are only 1997 of these decanters in the world and it was designed and created by the French design house, Daum.
Why Is Cognac So Expensive?
Limited bottles are produced and in circulation.
Decanter: Some of the most expensive bottles of cognacs in the world use decanters made from expensive metals or a baccarat crystal.
Age: The older the age, the pricier the cognac is because the older the liquor, the better its flavour. Older liquors are usually twice or three times the price of young spirits.
Production costs are higher: Expensive bottles of cognac usually boast artisanal natural ingredients. The distilling and ageing process is not only meticulous but it takes more time. So, producing good cognac has higher production costs.
On the note of exclusivity, cognac is often on allocation only.
With cognac, it would seem you either fall into two camps, you are uber-wealthy and can afford to shell out thousands (or millions) of pounds for a bottle, or you’re in the camp wondering what all the fuss is about!
Chermaine’s journey into the world of gemstones and crystals began as a child, collecting shimmering stones on family vacations. Today, she’s a certified gemologist and spiritual healer, intertwining the physical beauty of jewels with their metaphysical properties.
Chermaine has traveled to mines in Africa, marketplaces in India, and spiritual retreats in Bali, always seeking to deepen her understanding.