Rémy Martin · Baccarat Crystal · Since 1874

The Louis XIII
Identification Guide

Over 125 years of evolution, one decanter at a time. Identify any bottle by fins, base engraving, stopper, label, and packaging — from the first hand-blown glass to the modern gold-top era.

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Source: Research by Michael at Vieux Cognacs (vieuxcognacs.com), October 2013. Dates are approximate; some conclusions remain disputed. Use as a reference, not a final authority — bottle photography and original research available at the source.

Origins

History of the House

Louis XIII is the flagship expression of Rémy Martin — and the decanter is inseparable from the cognac inside it.

1874

The First Blend

Paul-Émile Rémy Martin, great-grandson of the family founder, drew from tierçons quietly aging in the Rémy Martin cellars and assembled what he called Grande Champagne, Très Vieille, Age Inconnu — very old, of unknown age, from the best terroir. He named it after King Louis XIII of France, who reigned when the Rémy Martin family first settled in the Cognac region in the 1620s and was the first French monarch to formally recognize cognac as a spirit. The blend came to international attention at the 1900 Universal Exhibition in Paris.

1569

The Decanter's Origin

The iconic decanter shape is not a modern design exercise. Paul-Émile modeled it on a 16th-century metal flask that had belonged to a French chevalier who carried it on the battlefield of Jarnac in 1569. Lost on the frontlines, it was unearthed centuries later and became the mold for the decanter we know today. The form — rounded body, fluted fins, fleur-de-lys medallions, ornate neck — has remained fundamentally unchanged for over 150 years, though crystal manufacturers, stopper designs, and finishing details have evolved considerably. All Louis XIII decanters you encounter today trace their shape to that battlefield flask.

Cellar Masters

The Unbroken Chain

Each cellar master selects eaux-de-vie they will never taste in their finished form — the blend they choose will only be bottled decades after they retire.

MasterTenure
André Renaud1924–1960
André Giraud1960–1990
Georges Clot1990–2003
Pierrette Trichet2003–2014
Baptiste Loiseau2014–present

Production

How Louis XIII Is Made

From vine to decanter spans up to a century and four generations of cellar masters. Less than 5% of eaux-de-vie evaluated each year are selected.

The Terroir

Grande Champagne Only

Louis XIII uses exclusively Grande Champagne grapes — the innermost and most prized of Cognac's six crus, representing just 4% of the appellation's vineyards. The chalk-rich soils produce wines with concentrated acidity and aromatic finesse uniquely suited to century-long aging. Rémy Martin's other expressions blend Grande and Petit Champagne; Louis XIII is 100% Grande Champagne. The Ugni Blanc grape is harvested in November, then double-distilled in copper pot stills smaller than conventional cognac stills to produce a concentrated, fruity eau-de-vie.

The Tierçons

Barrels Older Than the Republic

Louis XIII is aged in tierçons — traditional Limousin oak barrels, larger than standard casks, handmade from wide-grain oak air-dried a minimum of three years. Unlike conventional barrels, tierçons are used repeatedly over decades. Some in the Rémy Martin cellars date to 1744. When new, a tierçon first receives young eaux-de-vie; beyond 50 years, it receives older material destined for the final blend. Since 2017, approximately 15 new tierçons are made each year — not to expand production, but to gradually replace vessels too worn to repair. Four in-house coopers are trained specifically in the art of restoring old tierçons.

The Blend

Up to 1,200 Eaux-de-Vie

The final blend assembles up to 1,200 individual eaux-de-vie, ranging from 40 to 100 years of age. Only five experts are involved in the final blending process. The cellar master compares each new blend against previous years to maintain consistency — a remarkable challenge given that no two years' raw materials are identical. Once assembled, the blend spends an additional four years in a tierçon before being transferred to the Baccarat crystal decanter. The full journey from selection to decanter can span an entire century.

How to date a bottle

Six Ways to Identify an Era

No single characteristic is definitive. Use the full profile — all six — to narrow a date range. Sets are sometimes reassembled from mismatched parts, so verify that bottle, stopper, box, and card are consistent with each other.

01
Fins
Count the vertical fins on each side. Early bottles range wildly (8–17). Post-1950 Baccarat standardized at 10, very regular.
02
Base Engraving
Pre-WW2 Baccarat = name only, no logo. Baccarat logo appears after ~1950. Machine engraving replaces hand engraving later still.
03
Stopper
Early: numbered to match the decanter. Later: hollow crystal. 1979 onward: solid "Fleur-de-Lys" core stopper — the clearest modern indicator.
04
Label
"Age Inconnu" (rectangular) predates "Louis XIII Brand" (bean-shaped). US bottles switched first; Europe retained Age Inconnu until 1962.
05
Card
1938 Royal Banquet card used for decades. Replaced by the 1957 card, then by the "Battle of Jarnac" card from ~1969 onward.
06
Packaging
Rattan basket → velvet box → cardboard → oval silk → octagonal silk → square red pyramid-lid box. Each era has a signature case.
Pre-Baccarat hand-blown glass Louis XIII bottle, c.1870s
1870
1870–
1936
Global
Pre-Crystal Era

Hand-Blown Glass & Early Commercial Bottles

Manufacturer
Unknown. Almost certainly not Baccarat. Hand-blown glass with visible bubbles and foreign matter.
Name on Label
"Age Inconnu" — used on all bottles 1874–1937 per Rémy Martin records.
Base Engraving
None; or the word DEPOSE cast into the glass (barely visible). Some show only a cast number (e.g. No.10).
Fins
Highly irregular. Known examples: 8 & 9 fins (Type 1), 11 fins (Type 2), 17 & 16 fins (Type 3). Post-1900 commercial: 9 fins per side.
Stopper
Very coarse design. Irregular hand-ground insert. Rough cut-off under the insert.
Fleur-de-Lys
Gold-plated medallions with random orientation on early types. Later commercial bottles more consistent but still irregular.
Packaging
Unknown for 1870s–1900s. Rattan baskets appear on European "Age Inconnu" bottles in the 1930s–1940s.

No confirmed full bottle has ever been found from before 1938. All date estimates for the three earliest known bottle types are speculative. The three types share the same basic silhouette but differ dramatically in fin count and manufacturing precision — clear evidence of hand production without controlled molds.

The 1900–1936 commercial bottle (9 fins, acid-etched markings, cylindrical neck with offset opening) is probably what was sold through prohibition-era gray markets before Baccarat crystal arrived.

First Baccarat Louis XIII decanter, 1937–1940
1937
1937–
1940
EuropeUSA
First Baccarat Crystal

Early Crystal Decanters — No Engraved Logo

Manufacturer
Baccarat crystal — but no engraved logo or name. Identification relied solely on a paper Baccarat label (registered trademark since 1860, now frequently missing).
Base Engraving
E. Rémy Martin & Cie, Cognac France. Decanters individually numbered (e.g. No.2, 6, 10, 12, 39, 40, 42, 59).
Stopper
Numbered to match the decanter. Stamped glass Fleur-de-Lys medallion on top. Interior occasionally "contaminated" with white specks from fabrication.
Seal / Cork
Slim Centaur with spear handle pointing at the "Y" of Rémy (old-style logo).
US Label
Bean-shaped "Louis XIII Brand — Rarest Reserve." Appears 12–15 years before Rémy Martin claims to have introduced the name in America.
European Label
Rectangular "Age Inconnu."
Card
1938 Royal Banquet Card — some blank on one side, others bilingual French/English.
Packaging
Two types: plain cardboard shipping box, or Red Velvet presentation case similar to the 1946 green cases.
US Importer
Joseph H. Reinfeld Inc. / Browne Vintners (1938–1940). Any bottle with a Browne Vintners label dates to 1933–1940.

The critical authentication point: no Baccarat logo does not mean pre-WW2. Many post-war bottles (1946–1950) also lack the engraved logo. A logo on the base confirms post-1950; its absence is inconclusive either way.

Note the Fleur-de-Lys medallion size and position varies on these early bottles compared to post-WW2 Baccarat — a secondary dating clue when bottle numbers are missing.

1941–
1945
Global
Production Suspended

World War II — No Production

Status
Louis XIII production was completely suspended. No bottles were produced from 1941 through 1945.

Any set presented as a "WW2-era" Louis XIII should be viewed with extreme skepticism. Authentic 1938–1940 bottles are sometimes incorrectly combined with post-war cases, stoppers, or cards. Always verify all components of a set match the same era.

Post-war Louis XIII 'Louis XIII Brand' Rarest Reserve, 1946–1950
1946
1946–
1961
EuropeUSA
Post-War Baccarat

Two Markets, Two Names — The Split Identity Era

Manufacturer
Baccarat. No engraved logo until after ~1950 — logo added to base after that alongside the name.
Base (1946–50)
"Made in France by Baccarat" — no logo. Individually engraved numbers: 26, 28, 29, 32, 42, 55, 56, 103, 114.
Base (1951–61)
Baccarat logo added under base in addition to the name. Some bottles numbered, most not.
European Label
Rectangular "Age Inconnu" continues through the 1950s. Rattan basket packaging.
US Label
Bean-shaped "Louis XIII Brand — Rarest Reserve." Renfield Importers Ltd. listed on back label from 1946 onward.
US Packaging
1946–56: Green velvet presentation cases with gold tassel; some had a mirror inside the lid.
1957–58: Plain green velvet, no gold accents. First 1957 Royal Visit Card.
1959–61: Red cardboard with silk liner, gold Centaur on lid. First origin drawing included.
Card
1938 Royal Banquet Card through the 1950s. 1957 Royal Visit Card for newer sets. Both types coexist.
US Importer
Renfield Importers Ltd. (formed 1936, took over from Browne Vintners in 1940).

US buyers knew it as "Louis XIII" while the rest of the world still bought "Age Inconnu." For roughly 30 years the two names coexisted in parallel — which is why sets with different labels are found on either side of the Atlantic.

Low serial numbers in the 1946–1950 range reflect small yearly production restarting after the war. The rule that "no logo = pre-WW2" is wrong — many 1946–1950 bottles also lack the engraved logo.

Louis XIII transition era bottle, 1962–1963
1962
1962–
1968
GlobalUSA
Logo & Name Transition

Last "Age Inconnu" — New Centaur, One World Name

1962 — Key Year
Last bottles with the "Age Inconnu" label. From 1963 onward, all markets worldwide use the "Louis XIII" name. Multiple confirmed matching-serial sets make 1962 one of the best-documented transition years.
New Centaur Logo
Spear now points up at the "R" of Martin — replacing the old logo where the spear handle pointed at the "Y" of Rémy.
Numbering
1962–63: Some numbered (e.g. 80, 316, 832). 1964–68: Not numbered — the first era with no serial numbers at all.
Label
Bean-shaped "Tres Vieille" or "Rarest Reserve." Volume (0.7L) indicated on European bottles for the first time.
Packaging 1962–63
Plain white/cream cardboard with silk liner and gold trim. Lid features old or new Centaur depending on production date.
Packaging 1964–68
Red oval split "silk" box with Fleur-de-Lys and gold diagonal on lid. Almost exclusively a North American product — very rare to find in Europe or Asia.
Card
1938 and 1957 Royal Banquet Cards continue through 1968.

The 1964–1968 red oval box is the rarest packaging type in Louis XIII history outside North America. If one appears in Europe or Asia, examine it closely — it almost certainly did not originate there.

Classic era Louis XIII in octagonal red box, 1969–1978
1969
1969–
1978
EuropeUSA
Classic Era

Octagonal Box — Return of the Old Centaur

Bottle
Not numbered. Visible quality control decline. Later examples show painted markings instead of etched lettering; some have mold ring marks — evidence of machine rather than hand production.
Base Engraving
New layout: Baccarat logo centered. No individual serial numbers.
Seal / Cork
Return of the old-style fat Centaur (spear handle at "Y" of Rémy) — after nearly a decade of the new logo. An unexplained design reversal.
Label
Bean-shaped with "Tres Vieille," "Very Old," or "Rarest Reserve" designation.
Card
New "Battle of Jarnac" hanging tag replaces the Royal Banquet Cards that had been used since 1938.
Packaging
Octagonal red "silk" box. Around 1971 a new label, card, and cork seal revive the aesthetic of 1930s bottle design.

The octagonal box and Battle of Jarnac card are the clearest markers for this era. The return of the old Centaur logo (after a decade of the new version) remains unexplained — a useful dating indicator when the case has been separated from the bottle.

The quality decline across this period is visible: compare a 1970 bottle (still sharp, hand-etched lettering) to a 1977 or 1978 example (painted markings, visible mold lines).

Louis XIII Asian market Saint Louis crystal bottle, 1969–1981
Asia
1969–
1981
Asia
Saint Louis Crystal

Japanese Market — A Second Crystal Maker

Manufacturer
Saint Louis Cristalleries — not Baccarat. Rémy Martin confirmed that high Asian demand exceeded Baccarat's production capacity; Saint Louis was contracted for the Japanese export market.
Fins
10 fins per side, very regular shape. Some examples 9 fins. Clearly defined ridge around the base.
Base Engraving
E. Rémy Martin & Co. SA — Made in France by Saint Louis. "SA" instead of "Cie" is the key tell: Société Anonyme was only added to the company name in the 1960s. Volume indicated under the bottle (another post-1965 addition).
Stopper
All-crystal stopper (1969–78); later standard hollow crystal. Does not fit the decanter properly — considered lower quality by crystal collectors.
Label
Bean-shaped "Tres Vieille" or "Grand Champagne — Very Old" (French and English versions exist).
Packaging
Octagonal box identical to European/USA Baccarat version. 1981: plexiglass cases used for remaining "white-top" stock in duty-free shops throughout Asia.

Saint Louis bottles are frequently misidentified as early Baccarat or even 1900s examples. One was marketed by a major auction house as an "early 1900s Saint Louis bottle" — this was wrong. The use of "Co. SA" and volume indication on the base both place it firmly in the 1960s at earliest.

By 1981, remaining "white-top" stock was being liquidated through duty-free shops in plexiglass display cases — a presentation not seen in Western markets.

Gold-top era Louis XIII Baccarat decanter, 1979–2002
1979
1979–
2002
Global
Gold-Top Era

The Modern Baccarat — Numbered Again, 23 Years Running

Manufacturer
Baccarat (primary). Saint Louis also produced some bottles, typically for the Asian export market but occasionally found elsewhere.
Base Engraving
New layout: Baccarat logo centered, with "Baccarat Cristal" and "Liquor Bottle." Numbered again — 1–2 letters + 4 digits. Early bottles hand-engraved; later machine-engraved.
Stopper
New solid-core "Fleur-de-Lys" stopper — replaces all previous hollow and numbered designs. The most reliable single indicator of this era.
Seal
Gold capsule with stamped metal cap over cork. Older style gold seal (1980–1989); updated gold seal (1990 onward). Difference is subtle but visible to a trained eye.
Label
Paper labels eliminated entirely. Clear plastic decals with gold lettering for content and importer information replace them.
Card
No hanging tag cards. The card tradition ends with this generation.
Packaging
Square red box with truncated pyramid lid and gold lettering. Runs through 2002 with only minor cosmetic changes.
US Importer
Rémy-Cointreau via Rémy Amerique Inc. — the company now imports its own cognac directly.

The gold-top era is the longest-running single design in Louis XIII history — nearly 23 years. The return to individual bottle numbering (after a 15-year gap) makes authentication straightforward: if a gold-top bottle lacks a serial number, examine it carefully — it may be a Saint Louis example or have a replaced stopper.

Louis XIII Rendez-Vous 2000 special edition, 1999
1999
1999
Global
Limited Edition — 2,000 Bottles

Rendez-Vous 2000 — A Millennium Commission

Base Engraving
Special markings: Baccarat logo + decanter number / 2000A + logo indicating limited series of 2,000 bottles. Machine engraved. Bottle size (0.75L) also engraved.
Stopper
Standard Fleur-de-Lys solid core stopper — not individually numbered on this edition.
Seal
Gold capsule with stamped metal cap over cork — same as standard gold-top bottles.
Label
Clear plastic decal with gold lettering. Rémy-Cointreau / Rémy Amerique Inc. listed as US importer.
Content
Standard Louis XIII Grande Champagne cognac. The collectible value is driven by the limited run and special artwork — not by any difference in the spirit.
Presentation
Special artwork on both bottle and presentation case. The name urges a "meeting in the year 2000."

The Rendez-Vous 2000 is a gold-top bottle with special Baccarat engraving and a unique presentation case. It marks the end of this guide's scope — over 125 years from the first irregular hand-blown glass to a numbered millennium commission.

Collector's Reference

What to Look For

No single feature is definitive — use several in combination. Sets are sometimes reassembled from mismatched parts; verify that bottle, stopper, box, and card are consistent with each other.

What you seeWhat it tells you
White capsule topBottled before 1981
Gold capsule topBottled 1979 or later
Both white and gold tops possible1979–1981 overlap window
No Baccarat logo on basePre-1950 or 1946–1950 postwar — not necessarily pre-WWII
"Saint-Louis" on baseAfter 1969; Asian market production; 10-fin profile, all-crystal stopper
Slim Centaur, spear pointing at "Y" of RémyPre-1963
Centaur spear pointing up at "R" of Martin1963–1968
Fat Centaur (old style) on a newer-looking bottle1969–1978 — the octagonal box era paradoxically reverted to old Centaur
"Age Inconnu" labelEuropean market; pre-1963
"Rarest Reserve" label (bean-shaped)US market; used throughout most of the 20th century
Serial number (letters + 4 digits)1979 or later
No serial numberPre-1937 or 1964–1968 (that generation was unnumbered)
Solid "Fleur-de-Lys" stopper (not hollow)1979 or later
Green velvet box1946–1958 US market
Red velvet box1959–1961 US market
Red oval split box1964–1968; US market; unnumbered generation
Octagonal red "silk" box1969–1978
Red square box1979–2002
Rattan basketEuropean market; 1946–1962
Royal Banquet Card1938–1968 US market
Battle of Jarnac card1969 onward
4/5 Quart volumePre-metric; US market before 1981
0.7L or 0.75L volumePost-1962 Europe / post-1981 US
"2000A" on base engravingRendez-Vous 2000; limited to exactly 2,000 bottles
NFC chip in cork stopperModern Classic Decanter; enables authentication via LOUIS XIII Society app

US Tax Strip Dating

Applies to US-market bottles only. One of the most reliable dating tools for pre-1985 bottles.

Tax StripDate Range
No "Series" near eagle1934–1944
"Series 111" below eagle1944–1960
"Series 112" below eagle1961–1982
References "Dept. of Revenue"1961–1977
References "Bureau of ATF"1977–1985
Tax strips discontinuedAfter 1985

US Importer Timeline

The back-label importer is a quick dating shortcut for US-market bottles.

ImporterPeriod
Joseph H. Reinfeld Inc. / Browne Vintners1933–1940
Renfield Importers Ltd. (Union, NJ)1940s–1990s
Remy Amerique Inc. / Remy-Cointreau~1999–present
Common Myth Corrected: Many collectors assume that the absence of a Baccarat logo on the base indicates a pre-WWII bottle. This is incorrect — many post-WWII bottles (1946–1950) also lack the engraved logo. The logo only became standard after 1950.

The Lineup

Decanter Formats & Sizes

From a single-serve personal vessel to a monumental 9-liter sculpture. Historical US-market sizes used pre-metric designations; the shift to metric became mandatory in the US from 1981.

FormatVolumeNotable Details
The Drop1clPersonal experience format; designed for mixing and travel
Miniature5clHand-blown Baccarat crystal; same defining features as full-size
Classic70cl / 75clSignature size; modern version includes NFC chip in cork stopper for LOUIS XIII Society authentication
Magnum1.75L—
Jeroboam3LIncludes four glasses, Cellar Master letter, and LOUIS XIII Spear
Mathusalem6LOnly 50 produced per year; presented in display chest with eight glasses
Le Salmanazar9LOne-of-a-kind; created by 20 master sculptors at Baccarat; weighs over 15kg without cognac
4/5 Quart (historical)~757mlStandard US size through the 1970s; replaced by 75cl after 1981

The Liquid

Tasting Profile

Consistently 40% ABV. Classified Hors d'Age — beyond age designation — with a minimum component age of 40 years and a maximum of 100. Deep amber with warm mahogany and copper reflections; occasional flaming red tones suggesting great age.

Nose

Honeysuckle, leather, cigar box, figs, dried roses, plum, passion fruit, myrrh, honey, candied fruits, toasted oak, vanilla. Also: almond, allspice, orange peel, clementine, medjool date, baked pear, cocoa, dried chamomile, jasmine.

Palate

Candied figs, raisins, nuts, cinnamon, ginger, clove, oak, rancio, grape skins, slight salt, orange. Pairs well with caviar or wafer-thin bellota ham. The rancio — a nutty, cheesy oxidative note found only in very old cognacs — is among the most distinctive characteristics.

Finish

Exceptionally long. Sweet oak, cherry, and rancio persist, with baking spices and pepper. Widely regarded as having one of the longest finishes of any cognac. The house describes it as "a magical firework of flavors and aromas" — theatrical, but not inaccurate.

Limited Editions

Notable Special Releases

Beyond the Classic decanter, Rémy Martin has produced a series of limited editions tied to specific cellar selections, anniversaries, and collaborations. The Black Pearl series is the most collectible.

EditionYearDetailsRelease Price
Rendez-Vous 20001999Exactly 2,000 bottles; millennium edition; red square box with gold scrolling; stopper not numbered—
Black Pearl AHDVariousMultiple versions produced using private reserves of former chairman Heriard Dubreuil; also includes Anniversary Edition and a single bottle for the 2011 Montreal Grand Prix—
Black Pearl Rare Cask 42.62013738 Baccarat decanters; single tierçon selected by Pierrette Trichet in 2009; 42.6% ABV; most collectible of the Black Pearl series~$23,000 USD
The Origin — 18742017Tribute to the 1874 original; Saint-Louis crystal; woven metal case~$7,200 USD
Louis XIII Legacyn/d500 created; signed by four of the five cellar masters; Italian calfskin leather box; numbered plaque~$12,000 USD
Rare Cask 43.8CurrentLatest single-cask release~$20,000+ USD
The "100 Years" Project: In 2017, Pharrell Williams and Louis XIII collaborated on a climate change initiative in which Pharrell recorded a song entitled 100 Years that will be locked away until 2117. The recording is stored on a clay disc in a safe that will self-destruct if submerged in water — a characteristically theatrical expression of the brand's centurial philosophy.

The Market

Pricing, Resale & Authentication

Current Retail

New Release Pricing

FormatRetail
Classic (70cl/75cl)$3,000–$4,100
Miniature (5cl)~$762
Black Pearl Rare Cask~$23,000
Louis XIII Legacy~$12,000
The Origin — 1874~$7,200

Vintage Resale

Older Decanter Market

White-top bottles from before 1981 generally sell for around the same as a new decanter, sometimes slightly more, given that early Baccarat production was exclusively hand-blown. Condition, completeness (original box, card, stopper matching bottle number), and documented provenance drive premium pricing.

A rare Louis XIII Black Pearl discovered on a Mediterranean cruise ship — estimated by Bonhams at £5,000–£7,000 — ultimately sold for £10,350, nearly twice the high estimate.

Authentication & Notes

Verifying Your Bottle

Before 1981: the bottling date can be read directly from the decanter.

After 1981: provide the engraved serial number to Rémy Martin; they can retrieve the bottling date.

Modern Classic: NFC chip in the cork stopper enables digital authentication via the LOUIS XIII Society app.

Lead crystal: Pre-1969 Baccarat decanters were made with lead crystal. Any spirit stored in confirmed lead crystal for extended periods should be tested before consumption.

A Living Reference

This guide reflects research that is neither complete nor 100% accurate — exactly as the original author notes. Rémy Martin kept few production records. Many conclusions were derived by cross-referencing advertisements, tax stamps, label types, and date cards spanning decades of collecting.

Original research by Michael at Vieux Cognacs (vieuxcognacs.com), October 2013. With thanks to Austin Chan and Tron. Presented here for educational and reference purposes. If you have a bottle, a photograph, or information that extends this timeline, get in touch.