First exhibited at the Exposition
Universelle (Paris, 1900) Louis XIII has embodied sophistication for
over a century. Each bottle is a unique work of art, from the decanter -
each of which requires eleven craftsmen to blow the crystal, apply the
ornamentation and wrap the 20-K gold collar around its slender neck - to
the cognac itself. Composed of up to 1200 eaux-de-vie from the first
cru of the Cognac region, Grande Champagne, Louis XIII balances notes of
myrrh, honey, dried roses, plum, honeysuckle, cigar boxes, leather,
figs and passion fruit in an unmatched, ambrosial blend.


This book
is an ode to the cognac, sung by some of its earliest and most vibrant
devotees. We delve into the diaries and letters of two passionate
travellers aboard the America-bound cruiser Normandie, 1935; the agenda
of King George VI and his wife Queen Elizabeth on their visit to
Versailles in 1938; and the first-hand account of a young millionaire
who, while on a trip to Constantinople in 1928, requested that the
Orient-Express stop so that the surface of his brandy might lie still.


Tracing
the history of the iconic decanter from the pewter flask found after
the Battle of Jarnac to the inspired glass vessels that captivated the
royal courts of Europe, Louis XIII Cognac - The Thesaurus promises an elegant and entertaining glimpse into this prestigious cognac and the characters who drank it.

Preface by: John Malkovich