One of the oldest Cognac Houses in France is known throughout the world for luxurious premium drinks that have been served to the table of crowned persons, celebrities and influential people over the years.
The cost of production depends on the aging period and the value of individual alcohols. And if young cognacs can hardly be called affordable, then not everyone can afford collection items with a long exposure in a chic design.
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Brand History
It is curious that the merit of creating one of the most famous farms in France belongs to a visiting businessman from Jersey – Jean Martel.
Having married a young French woman, a talented businessman founded a small company for the production of strong drinks in the city of Cognac. It happened in 1715.
Fifty years later, the products of the Martell House conquered the United States and after about the same period entered the list of the best cognacs in England.
It is worth saying that the business of Jean Martel at that time had already passed into the hands of his heirs, however, the first steps in a promising direction were taken by the founder of the company.
By the middle of the 20th century, the company mastered the Asian market, and already at the beginning of the XNUMXth, Martel cognac became an honorary “guest” at the coronation of George V in England.
Significant for the company was the year 1912, when a legend was created – a drink of the Extra Old category – Martell Cordon Bleu. It was the first cognac of the company, which received its own name and became the hallmark of the brand.
It was Cordon Bleu that set sail with the luxurious transatlantic liner Queen Mary, attended the gala dinner on the occasion of the wedding of the Prince of Monaco and the French reception in honor of Queen Elizabeth II.
Traveling in elite trains and on board airliners, shooting in Hollywood films and tasting surrounded by influential people – these are far from all the solemn events that have fallen to the share of the famous drink.
Today, the Martell House is one of the three largest world producers of cognac and occupies a leading position in sales of strong liquor in many countries.
Manufacturing specifics
The best winemakers, masters of distillation, blenders, experts in the field of storage are working on the creation of outstanding cognacs.
“Place, precision and time” are the main points that underlie the unique manufacturing technology, observed for three centuries. It implies:
Growing raw materials within the traditional terroir
Mild oceanic climate, plenty of sun, fertile land give the product its characteristic features: elegance, floral notes, aromas of candied fruits and soft spices.
Jean Martel paid special attention to the silicate-clay soils of the Borderies, where the Ugni Blanc variety, popular in cognac business, is cultivated to this day, giving refinement and nobility to drinks.
Rigorous approach to the distillation process
The wines used as a base are carefully cleaned of impurities and sediments, after which they are heated in copper tanks in the old fashioned way.
The distillation temperature and time are clearly measured.
Pure raw materials make it possible to obtain exceptionally fine and fragrant cognac spirits – real “living water”, and exact observance of the parameters gives the drinks the recognizable style of the Martel House.
Aging in special oak barrels
A special type of wood, combined with the darkness and silence of family cellars, completes the process and leads to the birth of elegant, balanced cognac spirits, the bouquet of which contains notes of vanilla, dried fruits, red berries and flowers.
In the process of aging, the drinks acquire a characteristic amber color and a delicate oak flavor.
The type of barrel and its preparation matter. New containers give the product a strong woody aroma, used containers less pronounced.
Light roasting of oak allows the cognac bouquet to open up brighter.
Blending
Cognac maturation lasts from two years to several centuries.
The exact time for each drink is determined by a specialist working in the cellar.
After reaching the desired degree of maturity, the spirits are mixed in accordance with the old recipe.
The complex art of blending is subject only to true professionals who have not only a keen sense of smell, but also truly magical abilities in the art of creating harmonious bouquets.
cocktails with cognac
Separately, it is worth mentioning the original design of Martell collection drinks, to which the manufacturer pays no less attention than the contents of the bottles.
Figured decanters made of crystal, calfskin boxes with mirrors, designer bottles with monograms – these masterpieces are worth, if not held in hands, then at least seen.
Types of cognac Martel
Martell NCF
One of the latest developments of the House, produced according to innovative technology: the drink is filtered at room temperature, in contrast to the classical one, carried out at 0 °.
The result is a cognac with a fresh, lively character, in which accents of apricot jam, vanilla, tangerine, pink grapefruit, candied fruits and citrus zest are felt.
Recommended to be served with ice.
Martell VS / Single Distillery
The youngest of the company’s cognacs, aged only two years.
Color: light gold. Bouquet: harmonious, soft, fresh, fruity, with tones of pear, banana and vanilla.
A distinctive feature of the second is a more intense, deep taste and bright aroma.
Martell VSOP
Available in three variants: regular, VSOP with Médallion and VSOP aged in Red Barrels.
Colour: Golden amber. Nose: bitter lime, tart licorice, juicy quince, raisins and plums combined with fresh woody and nutty notes.
Taste: soft, velvety, round, fruity, with a long aftertaste.
Drink from the “red barrels” is kept in containers that have already been used to store cognac. They give the product refinement and delicacy, enhance the “fruitiness”.
Martell Distinction
Another drink in the VSOP category Color: amber gold with copper highlights.
Bouquet: candied fruit, plum jam, lemon peel, vanilla, saffron, ginger, honey.
Taste: balanced, sensual.
Martell Noble
Balanced, sensual, powerful cognac with a caramel-creamy aroma, poured into elegant elongated bottles.
A beverage that falls outside of a VSOP category but has not yet reached the next category.
Color: copper-gold. Palate: fruity vanilla with woody and caramel undertones. Long honey aftertaste.
Martell Cordon Bleu / Extra
Unique cognac category XO “Ideal for special occasions.”
Copper color, apple-plum aroma with notes of roasted coffee and almonds.
Taste: soft, fruity-spicy, elegant, rich.
It was first released in 1912. In the Extra version, the bouquet of the famous drink acquires new shades: the taste becomes deeper and brighter, plays with notes of cinnamon, blackcurrant, orange peel and dried fruits.
Martell XO
A sophisticated and elegant drink complemented by a matching frame in the form of a designer bottle.
Colour: copper amber with gold highlights.
Aroma: piquant-spicy with notes of pepper, fig, sandalwood, walnut.
Intense fruit and berry taste is best revealed in its pure form.
Martell Chanteloup
Powerful, sensual cognac class “Extra” with a honey-fruity aroma and a shimmering amber hue.
The taste is dominated by tones of dried fruits and nuts.
GOLD by Jean Martell
A unique drink containing 400 rare cognac spirits, poured into handmade crystal decanters.
Deep amber color, fresh fruity-spicy aroma with notes of berries, gingerbread and oriental spices.
Taste: silky, captivating, full-bodied, with hints of orange, vanilla, blackcurrant and a long, enveloping trail.
Martell Cohiba
A rare cognac of amber-copper color, the raw materials for which are harvested exclusively in the Grande Champagne region.
The manufacturer positions it as “the perfect drink for cigar fans.”
The bouquet contains dried fruits, berries, nuts, roasted coffee beans, light floral and licorice notes.
Single Estate and Millésime 1972 collections
Drinks created with the help of special technologies: the first – from the raw materials of a certain terroir, the second – from the harvest of a certain year.
The manufacturer regularly replenishes the product line, including the release of upgraded versions of iconic drinks and fundamentally new developments.
Cognac Martel is best drunk in its pure form or in company with ice or a small amount of spring water.
Young drinks are good in cocktails, the recipes of which can be found on the manufacturer’s website.
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Relevance: 28.12.2018
Tags: Brandy and Cognac, Cognac Brands