How Courvoisier Crafts One Of The World’s Great Cognac

Courvoisier, a brand synonymous with quality, is one of Cognac’s largest and most storied producers. Below is a brief history of the House and tasting notes on its current range of Cognacs, a testament to its unwavering commitment to excellence.

Courvoisier, one of the four major cognac houses globally, often referred to as one of the ‘Big Four’ alongside Hennessy, Martell, and Rémy Martin, has a rich history.

The brand’s connection to Napoleon Bonaparte, although the link is somewhat tenuous and predates the firm’s founding, adds a fascinating layer to its history. Courvoisier developed the designation Napoleon for one of its brandy expressions and famously used a silhouette of Napoleon, a unique and intriguing aspect of the brand’s identity.

Louis Gallois and Felix Courvoisier founded a wines and spirits business in Bercy, in the suburbs of Paris, in 1809. Napoleon Bonaparte visited the firm in 1811, and it’s believed he became a customer of the firm’s Cognac, though at the time it would not have carried the Courvoisier brand.

Napoleon took several barrels of Cognac with him into exile on St Helena, though it is unclear where that Cognac was sourced. The British officers who accompanied him and partook in the Cognac referred to it as “The Cognac of Napoleon,” an expression Courvoisier would later use in its marketing campaigns.

In 1828, Courvoisier moved its operations to Jarnac, in the heart of the Cognac region, to focus exclusively on cognac production. That date marks the birth of the Cognac House and its now legendary brand.

Courvoisier’s link to Napoleon III, Bonaparte’s nephew, is much more robust. Napoleon III appointed Courvoisier the ‘Official Supplier to the Imperial Court’ in 1869. Napoleon III also played a significant role in promoting the Cognac industry. In 1860, he played a major role in promoting free trade between France and Great Britain.

This agreement, known as the Cobden-Chevalier Treaty, resulted in a boom in France’s exports of wines and spirits, including Cognac. Many of the grand chateau in Cognac were built during this golden age of Cognac sales. Unfortunately, the boom in Cognac sales was cut short by the advent of the phylloxera epidemic that decimated Cognac’s vineyards between 1870 and 1895.

Courvoisier adheres to strict production practices, highlighting its commitment to quality and consistency.

The company uses grapes drawn from the Grande Champagne, Fin Boise, Borderies, and Petit Champagne crus for its Cognacs. Like most Cognac producers, it relies on the Ugni Blanc grape, valued for its high acidity and ability to produce clean, aromatic eaux-de-vie.

Generally speaking, Courvoisier distills on the lees. This practice results in fuller, more robust Cognacs with a more pronounced palate weight and texture. It’s unclear if some eaux-de-vie is distilled off the lees to have lighter blending stock with a different aroma and flavor profile.

The Cognac is subsequently aged in French oak barrels sourced from the Limousin and Tronçais forests, which impart flavors of vanilla, spice, and toasted wood. The aging occurs in humid cellars, allowing the eaux-de-vie to develop rich, complex flavors. Following maturation, a master blender meticulously selects and blends eaux-de-vie of various ages and crus, creating Courvoisier’s signature smooth, harmonious Cognac style.

Tasting Notes on Courvoisier Cognac

Courvoisier VS (Very Special)

Courvoisier’s VS Cognac includes spirits aged up to eight years. On the nose, it features fresh orchard fruit aromas of apple and pear, floral notes, and a touch of vanilla. It’s smooth on the palate, with flavors of ripe fruits, light oak, and caramel. The finish is medium length, smooth, and slightly sweet, with lingering fruit and spice notes.

Courvoisier VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale)

The VSOP Cognac blends spirits aged for 8–12 years. Typically, it’s a blend of Fins Bois and Petite Champagne eaux-de-vie.

The nose features dried fruit, candied orange peel, floral notes, and subtle oak. It’s rich and robust but balanced on the palate, featuring vanilla, black cherry, dried apricots, and cinnamon notes. The finish is medium length, with lingering hints of nutmeg and dark chocolate. The Cognac is smooth and elegant, and, like its younger VS sibling, it is ideal for sipping high-quality cocktails.

Courvoisier XO (Extra Old)

The XO Cognac comprises eaux-de-vie aged 10–25 years, focusing on Grande and Petite Champagne spirits.

The nose features aromas of candied fruit, crème brûlée, and floral notes of iris and violet. It’s rich, robust, and complex on the palate, with flavors of marmalade, dried figs, toasted almonds, and a touch of honey. The finish is long and smooth, with lingering dried fruit, spice, and subtle oak notes.

Courvoisier XO Royal

Courvoisier XO Royal is an exceptional Cognac that reflects the historic blends once favored by European royalty, notably inspired by the exclusive “Edward VII Reserve” crafted for Britain’s King Edward VII in the early 1900s

The nose is aromatic, fruity and slightly earthy, featuring aromas of black truffle, and floral potpourri. It’s robust and full-bodied on the palate featuring dried fruits, toasted hazelnuts, honey, and cinnamon notes. The nose is exceptionally long and powerful, with lingering honey and cinnamon notes.

Courvoisier Napoléon

The Courvoisier Napoléon is a blend of 25 eaux-de-vie aged 15–25 years, focusing on Borderies and Grande Champagne crus. Although Napoleon Cognac is typically younger than an XO Cognac, Courvoisier is an exception as its Napoleon Cognac is older than its XO.

On the nose, the Napoléon offers rich aromas of dried fruits, cocoa, and subtle wood spices. It’s smooth and full-bodied on the palate, with flavors of dried dark fruits, especially prunes, roasted coffee, and vanilla. The finish is long and elegant, with hints of dried fruits, toasted wood, and spice.

Courvoisier Initiale Extra

The Initiale Extra Cognac is aged for 30+ years and is made from rare eaux-de-vie from Grande Champagne and Borderies.

It’s intensely aromatic on the nose, with leather, truffle, sandalwood, and dried apricot notes. It’s incredibly smooth on the palate, featuring spiced honey, toffee, dark chocolate, and candied orange zest flavors. The finish is exceptionally long, rich, and robust, with layers of dried fruit, spices, and toasted oak.

Courvoisier L’Essence

L’Essence is Courvoisier’s oldest and most complex Cognac expression. It’s crafted from eaux-de-vie aged up to 60 years.

The nose features complex sandalwood, cigar box, candied orange, and plum aromas. The palate is rich, complex, and multi-layered, offering marmalade, cloves, toffee, and tropical fruit notes. The finish is incredibly long and smooth, with a velvety texture and a nuanced, layered complexity featuring stone and tropical fruits, wood spices, and rancio aromas of old leather and furniture wax.

L’Essence is a liquid masterpiece, blending the finest cognacs in Courvoisier’s cellar.

Courvoisier is a testament to the artistry and heritage of cognac-making, combining meticulous craftsmanship with a distinct style characterized by smoothness, elegance, and complexity. Each expression offers a unique journey through the terroir and traditions of the Cognac region, making Courvoisier a timeless choice for casual drinkers and connoisseurs.