Martell XO Cognac

About Martell XO Cognac

The Martell XO was first introduced in 2005, and is said to be deeply characteristic Jean Martell’s essence. “A testimony to Jean Martell’s visionary spirit. Combining the elegance of the Borderies with the power of the Grande Champagne terroirs…” Martell XO comes in a uniquely crafted arc shaped bottle. It is double distilled blended with both Borderies and Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, which is aged at least 6 years. It is bottled at 40% ABV.

Martell XO is a unique nuance of flavors and aromas, both spicy and rich. It starts off with the refined softness of the Borderies, followed by the intense of flavors of Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie. On the nose there are aromas of ground spice (black pepper, coriander), red berries, rich fruit flavours of fig chutney and compote. Nuttier notes of almonds and walnuts, are paired with elements of beeswax and sandalwood. The mouthfeel is rounded and fruity and the palate is spicy with notes of fig and walnut. The finish is long and silky smooth.

The Martell cognac house is the most longstanding of all the major cognac houses. For over three hundred years, this House has been passed down through generations. They pride themselves on their rich heritage and craftsmanship. Martell was founded in 1715 by Jean Martell, along the river Charente, at the very pinnacle of the French L’Art de Vivre. This French concept of “the art of living,” embodies the notion that one should elegantly embrace the richness of life. House Martell strives to capture this essence in their craft.

Martell, a member of a prominent merchant family from the Jersey Channel, started what would become a rich legacy in the cognac industry. The young Briton began this journey as a broker, purchasing casks of Borderies cognac and wine and selling them in the Channel islands, Normandy, Picardy and Holland. Successive failures due to the economic climate at the time saw a great rise and fall of wine and cognac prices. But with Jean’s entrepreneurial spirit, and through profitable marriages into families of prominent cognac merchants, (particularily to Jeanne-Rachel Lallemand, “a direct descendant of Jacques Roux, a pioneering 17th century cognac merchant”), House Martell saw great success.

In 1721, it is reported that they exported over 200,000 liters of signature blend to Great Britain alone. After Jean Martell’s death in 1753, the operation was taken over by his widow, his two sons, Jean and Frédéric, and his brother-in-law Louis Gabriel (brother of Jeanne-Rachel Lallemand), who further developed the house, transcendently expanding its influence. By the 19th century, Martell had established itself as the most prominent international exporter of cognac in the world, reaching as far as China and Japan.

House Martell has full range of cognacs; a collection of 10 expressions from their VS, to their Premier Voyage. The Martell distillery uses grapes from the major cognac regions, predominantly Ugni Blanc (or Trebbiano) grapes from the Borderies vineyards, and ages its cognac in distinctive Tronçais oak casks. They use a double distillation method, with traditional "Charentais alembics" (pot stills).

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