Swivel notes of plum and dates during your first sip; journey through flavors of gingerbread, prune stone and ginger; and settle on a slight touch of tobacco leaf — these are the flavors of the new Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6 from Rémy Martin. If your palate was just wet and you want to try it out for yourself, you’ll have to shell out around $1,050 for a 1/2 ounce at select high-end establishments around the world.
Luckily for those in Georgia, the St. Regis Atlanta gave patrons a sampling of the rare brandy — only the second distinctive barrel to be discovered in Cognac’s nearly 140-year history — on December 10 at the hotel’s bar. Hand-delivered by Rémy Cointreau USA Vice President of Prestige Brands Yves de Launay, the decanter arrived in a 1935 Duesenberg convertible (which is how all my liquor arrives). Keeping it in the family, the car originally belonged to St. Regis Founder John Jacob Astor IV’s late wife Madeline Astor.
“We are thrilled to be one of the few U.S. locations and the only St. Regis property to offer the LOUIS XIII RARE CASK 42,6 cognac,” said Senih Geray, General Manager of The St. Regis Atlanta. “It’s an honor to carry a spirit of such prestige and exclusivity, which aligns well with the premier offerings we serve in The St. Regis Bar, modeled after the famed King Cole Bar at The St. Regis New York.”
So exclusive is the cognac that only a few locations around the globe will carry it, especially since the tierçon only held enough cognac to produce 738 decanters of the adult beverage. It also has a slightly higher alcohol by volume percentage, 42.6 versus the 40 percent for the classic Louis XIII, while still offering the same richness and aromatic intensity that Rémy is known for.
Discovered in the fall, Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6 honors the classic Louis XIII blend of 1,200 eaux-de-vie and offers its own unique salient aromas. As every fine liqueur needs a bottle that is as chic and sleek as what is inside, Baccarat took on the job to create the iconic black crystal decanter for the new collection. Over 20 master craftsmen used their expertise to complete the more than 50-step process in creating a single carafe. All this was done while ensuring the opaque crystal was kept at a constant temperature.
Los Angeles’ Ago and The Four Seasons Hotel Los Angeles at Beverly Hills, New York’s Del Frisco’s and the New York Palace and Bern’s Steakhouse in Tampa will also be carrying the cognac. If you’d rather purchase your own decanter for home, Louis XIII Rare Cask 42,6 can be bought for approximately $22,000.
