Over the past century or so, Louis XIII has carved a niche for itself among the most esteemed cognacs on the planet. Now the House has looked back into its rich history to play tribute to one of its most inspirational leaders with the Louis XIII Black Pearl.
If you’re going to splurge, you might as well splurge on great cognac, and from the ranks of the region’s top drops, Louis XIII has risen to the very top, thanks to its use of old and precious eaux-de-vies, sourced from Grande Champagne and selected by generations of cellar masters to create a truly unique blend that’s in turn presented in a now-iconic decanter.
Paying tribute to influential past-Louis XIII Chairman André Hériard Dubreuil, the Louis XIII Black Pearl takes this luxurious spirit to the next level. Within this striking 35cl decanter, crafted by French crystal legends Baccarat from glass laced with precious metals that give a luminous effect, is a spirit that includes rare drops from a single tierçon, hidden within Dubreuil’s own cellar, a time capsule-like space that’s cooler, darker and damper than the rest.
Numbered and limited to just 1,498 breathtaking, steely bottles inspired by a royal flask found on the battlefield of Jarnac, fought in 1569, the Black Pearl is the epitome of refinement and complex beauty: the delicate symmetry of the decanter’s lacework combines with the meticulous detail of the iconic medallions, with their minute pearl inlays, revealing the pure iridescence of hand‐blown crystal decorated with precious palladium plating.
If you’re ever lucky enough to try this sublime spirit, you’ll find fresh, floral and intense earthy aromas as well as remarkable notes of dried roses, honey, myrrh, cigar box, plum, honeysuckle, leather, figs and passion fruit that gradually give way to the scent of wet chalk and woody undergrowth and leave nothing but smooth elegance in their wake. All for just US$12,485.
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