There are some drinks you drink as a right of passage as you enter a new phase, and then once life has had its way with you–sometimes good other times not–you pour yourself Martell’s cognac.
You swirl the mahogany liquor in the glass taking in the sweet yet distinctive aromas and then sip it graciously, swishing it around in your mouth with reverence, not because of the price tag associated with the bottle but because just like your own life’s journey, you realize everything takes time.
For 300 years, Martell has provided the world with the most flavorful cognac and in September more than 100 guests from 10 different countries were invited to Paris for the unveiling of the brand’s newest spirit, Chanteloup XXO. The baby of the Martell family was welcomed in style as attendees dressed in their Sunday’s best on a Tuesday evening for a gala held at the City of Paris’ Museum of Fine Arts, Petit Palais.
Writers, influencers, brand ambassadors and spirit connoisseurs nibbled on hor’s dourves and drank Chanteloup XXO cocktails created specifically for the night’s festivities. Guests mingled on the museum’s spacious outside terrace as the pianist played covers of popular hits including Lil Nas X’s “Old Country Road” and Pharrell and Daft Punk’s “Get Lucky.”
As the night progressed, participants were led into the sprawling dining room to enjoy a five-course meal prepared by Michelin three-star chef Guy Savoy who worked with Martell Cellar Master Christophe Valtaud to craft dishes that complimented Chanteloup XXO. The reveal of the bottle and brandy was made grander by an avant-garde trampoline performance, which left guests mesmerized.
Paris is a magical city full of style, wonder, and art, making even the most jaded of us humble to its beauty. My first time traveling to France I was taken back by the Eiffel as it sparkled at night as well as the similarities between the city and my own home, New York. However, while in France with Martell, guests were treated to the finest the city had to offer.
With bellies full, attendees tucked away for the evening and woke up early the next day to journey to the Martell compound in Cognac to experience how the spirit is made. Cognac is derived from white wine and specific grapes. It’s then distilled twice in copper stills to create eau-de-vie, which is then aged for a minimum of two years, however, cognac really comes to life the longer it’s aged with some of the best product hitting the market a decade or two later.
Named after the Chateau de Chanteloup in Cognac, the newest addition to the Martell brand earned the XXO because it’s dedicated to the cellar on the Chanteloup estate where it’s finished. Before you sip, scents of honey, vine peach, and apricot accompanied by notes of fig, almonds, and walnuts dance under your nose.
Priced at $224, Martell’s Chanteloup XXO is the finest cognac to enter the Martell brand. Remaining loyal to the tried and true recipe created by Jean Martell in 1715, Chanteloup XXO provides cognac lovers with the bold richness of the spirit, while not neglecting the important dance on the palette Martell lovers expect.
Cheers to Chanteloup XXO.