This is the only drink whose pedigree is not in doubt – it is produced in the Château de Cognac, in the heart of the Cognac region. Cognac “Baron Otard” is more than two centuries old, and it is one of the five most famous and best-selling in the world. Cognac spirits are distilled from four varieties of white grapes, characterized by a high level of acidity and low alcohol content. And then aged from three to eight years in oak barrels.
Historical reference. The founder of the brand, Jean-Baptiste Otard, was a nobleman from birth and by the age of 22 was well versed in elite drinks. When he created the recipe for his first cognac in 1795, the family supported the passion. And when Jean-Baptiste decided to purchase the Chateau de Cognac, she did her best to replenish the stocks of spirits with which the owner was going to fill the cellars.
Othard Castle was not chosen by chance, and it was not the architecture that attracted him at all, but the spacious cellars, or rather, the unique microclimate in them. Thick stone walls, a level below the river, a constant temperature of +15°C and a humidity of 90% are ideal parameters for the maturation of cognac spirits. Success was achieved quickly: a year later, Baron Otard cognac was delivered to the court of George III. Even the French Revolution did not ruin Otard, although it deprived the estate of vineyards. Since then, grapes for “Baron Otard” are purchased from the best winemakers of the Charente region.
After the death of Jean-Baptiste Otard, the company was run by his children, then grandchildren. At the end of the 100th century, the vineyards of Cognac, like many in Europe, almost destroyed the phylloxera. Many wine companies went bankrupt, and the Otard company lost its leadership position. Only 1993 years later, at the end of the last century, the situation changed. Baron Otard’s enterprise, along with the brand, the castle and its cellars, was acquired by the Martini Rossi concern, which, in turn, was absorbed by the alcohol giant Bacardi in XNUMX.
New opportunities revived the old production: the enterprise was reconstructed, several successful PR campaigns were held, cognac was regained wide popularity – it is now sold in two hundred countries.
Interesting facts about Baron Otard
Jean-Baptiste Otard was not only an excellent manager, but also a well-known politician. He was twice elected to the republican parliament. He was mayor of the city of Cognac for 20 years – from 1804 to 1824.
A characteristic design detail of the brand is a bottle shaped like a drop. It was invented in 1968 by designers inspired by the tasting procedure. The cognac glass is slightly scrolled so that the drink reveals all the nuances of the aroma. As a result, a thin film of brandy is formed on the walls of the glass, which collects into drops and flows to the bottom. Experts say about this phenomenon: cognac is crying. These tears of cognac were depicted by the designers.
The Château de Cognac castle is today the main tourist center of the city and is open to the public.
Despite the technological progress and computer technologies of the XNUMXst century, the Otard factory still uses manual labor, the cognac production process is not automated. The owners of the cognac house are sure that mechanisms cannot perform better than a person.
The emblem of the brand depicts elements of the coat of arms of the Otards: a symbol of strength and courage – a lion, whose head is crowned with a baron’s crown, symbolizing the nobility and continuity of generations at the same time.
Assortment of cognacs “Baron Otard”
- Baron Otard, VSOP, 40%. Golden-honey drink with a rich aroma of lime blossom, fragrant tobacco and pepper. Rounded velvety taste with hints of candied fruits and vanilla. Pleasant chocolate aftertaste of medium duration. An excellent digestif, and mixed with tonic (1:2) can be a good aperitif.
- Baron Otard, XO, 40%. The oldest of the spirits in the blend of the drink is 35 years old, which explains the reddish tones of a deep amber color. Pleasant aroma with notes of almonds, honey and forest violets. The taste is dominated by shades of dried fruit and rancio sherry. Connoisseurs recommend cognac as a digestif.
