There's something about an old bottle that no new one can fake. This one has travelled from Jarnac to Hamburg and on into a Danish collection, and the label still carries the fading and creases of decades spent being held up to the light.
Expert description
Courvoisier Luxe Cognac is a French Cognac from Jarnac in the heart of the Cognac region, bottled at 40%. This "Luxe" 3 Star bottling dates from an era when Courvoisier still marketed itself under the royal warrant "By Appointment to the Late King George VI" – a reference to the British court that the house was permitted to carry in its branding for decades. The bottle was imported into Germany by Charles Hosie in Hamburg, a detail that tells its own story about the Cognac's journey from the French cellars out into Europe. Courvoisier is one of the so-called big four Cognac houses and has, since its founding in 1809, cultivated a soft and approachable style that sets it apart from some of the more angular, powerful houses in the region. The Cognac is blended from several crus around Jarnac and matured in French oak casks in the house's own cellars, which gives it the rounded, elegant profile the house is known for.
Tasting Notes
Nose
Ripe apples and plums meet a touch of dry oak spice, a combination often found in older Cognac-based bottlings.
Palate
Round and soft, with stone fruit sweetness balanced by a light, spiced oak warmth.
Finish
Mild and elegant, without sharp edges – a finish that matches the house's well-known, approachable style.
Specifications
Name: Courvoisier Luxe Cognac
Distillery: Courvoisier
Region/Country: France, Jarnac
Type: Cognac
ABV: 40%
Size: 70 CL
Cask type: French oak casks
Edition: Luxe (3 Star), imported by Charles Hosie, Hamburg
Flavour Profile
Fruity · Soft · Elegant · Oak-Spiced
Investment Potential
High. This is a discontinued vintage bottling carrying the historic royal warrant along with a clear import provenance, both of which appeal to collectors of old Cognac bottlings. Comparable Courvoisier Luxe 3 Star bottles from the same era are trading today well above what a modern standard bottle would cost, and interest in vintage Cognac with this kind of historic labelling has been growing among collectors.
Did You Know?
Courvoisier is the only one of the big four Cognac houses ever officially permitted to use the imperial "N" in its marketing – a legacy of the brand's supposed connection to Napoleon Bonaparte, who is said to have taken the Cognac with him into exile.
Please note: This bottle is sold as a collector's item. The quality of the contents cannot be guaranteed, and the bottle itself may show scuffs and scratches – see the photo.
