Bite Autumn 2012

Courvoisier Great Adv

O n the banks of the Charente, where the river runs through the southwest of France, the story of one of the finest cognac in the world is unrivalled. From its humble beginnings in Paris to its present home in the sleepy town of Jarnac, Courvoisier has been handcrafted in these parts for almost two centuries. Smooth, dark and enriched with an embodiment of complex aromas and flavours, Courvoisier is the perfect beverage to enjoy neat,mixed or in a punch at home or on a night out. It was after the French Revolution that founders Emmanuel Courvoisier and Louis Gallois decided to open a wine and spirit company on the outskirts of Paris, north of the river Seine in 1809. France was in an uncertain climate, recovering from the greatest and bloodiest political upheaval in its history; nonetheless the wine trade was already thriving and by 1811 the two founders’ reputation was highly respected amongst brandy connoisseurs. Napoleon Bonaparte, the emperor at the time visited their warehouses in Bercy, and impressed with the taste, awarded the troops in his artillery a ration of cognac to boost their morale during the Napoleonic wars. It is said that while en route to the remote island of St. Helena, located between Africa and South America, where he was exiled following his defeat at the battle of Waterloo, Napoleon enjoyed the luxury of several casks of cognac and shared it with his English captors on board the HMS Northumberland during their 67- day voyage. They named it ‘The Brandy of Napoleon’. In 1828 Felix Courvoisier and Jules Gallois, sons of the two founders, moved the headquarters from Paris to Jarnac,in the heart of the Cognac region. A magnificent and ornate Château built on the banks of the river Charente in the 1840s became the home of the newly established brand of Courvoisier and remains their global headquarters to this day.The reputation of the cognac was so highly regarded that it graced the tables of the Royal Courts of Denmark, England and Sweden. Napoleon’s nephew and heir, Napoleon III also personally requested Courvoisier, giving the company the title of ‘Fournisseur de la Cour Impériale’ or official supplier to the Imperial Court. Following his death in 1870, Charles Dickens,the famous British novelist is said to have left behind a collection of more than 2,160 bottles of alcohol in his home, including 216 bottles of a French pale cognac labelled ‘F Courvoisier’, the

initials of Felix Courvoisier. Courvoisier marked its place in history as the cognac requested for the grand opening of the Eiffel Tower at the 1889 World’s Fair in Paris. In attendance were the royalty and celebrities of the day including the future King Edward VII of England, Buffalo Bill, Vincent Van Gogh, Henry James and Thomas Edison. On that day Courvoisier also won the ultimate international prize, the Medaille d’Or. In the early 1900s, thanks to the Brits and their love of cognac, the grading of cognac using English abbreviations such asVS (Very Special),VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) and XO (eXtra Old) was established. In 1909, all brandies were defined as cognac (but not the other way round) when the French authorities legally decreed that a spirit could be called a cognac if it adhered to strict fermentation, distillation and ageing requirements and was produced entirely in the Cognac region of France. Also in the same year, Alfred and George Simon assumed leadership of the Courvoisier brand and assigned the silhouette of Napoleon to bottles of cognac. The many delicious variations of the cognac have no doubt made Courvoisier a well renowned purveyor. Some of the most famous variations include the iconic shaped Josephine (named after Napoleon’s first wife); Courvoisier VS, a fusion of young and older cognac that has a fruity, delicate taste with a rich, fresh and oaky aroma; Courvoisier VSOP, a delicate bouquet with an excellent balance of oak and exotic flavours; Courvoisier Napoleon, a delicate full-bodied and subtle cigar box bouquet with hints of sandalwood, dried apricot and mushrooms, and Courvoisier XO, an intensely aromatic and flavourful well-matured Grande Champagne aged over long periods of time, and a favourite with designers such as Erté and Vivienne Westwood. Courvoisier isn’t just about drinking fine cognac, it’s about sharing the past, present and future experience of one of France’s finest creation. The exclusive tours at Château Courvoisier namely the Classic, Family Tradition, Historic Blends and From Grapes to Glass tours will take you on a revolutionary journey through time and engage you in experiences such as the 3D film and sensorial cinema experience ‘Le Nez de Courvoisier’, a tasting from their award-winning cognac portfolio, a VSOP Exclusif drinks reception, sampling of their Napoleon marque in the Château’s salon and a selection of desserts that will guide