Rémy Martin · Identification guide

Louis XIII, era by era

Date any Louis XIII decanter from its fins, base, stopper, label and case, from 1870s hand-blown glass to the gold-top era.

Find your era Dating cheat sheet

Research by Michael at Vieux Cognacs (vieuxcognacs.com), October 2013. Dates are approximate and some conclusions remain disputed.

Which era is my decanter?

Nine eras, one key sign each. Tap one to jump to its details.

Pre-Baccarat hand-blown glass Louis XIII bottle, c.1870s
1870–1936

Pre-Baccarat

Hand-blown glass, irregular fins
First Baccarat Louis XIII decanter, 1937–1940
1937–1940

First Baccarat

Numbered crystal, no Baccarat logo
No production
1941–1945

World War II

No bottles made. Beware “WW2” sets
Post-war Louis XIII 'Louis XIII Brand' Rarest Reserve, 1946–1950
1946–1961

Post-War

Green velvet (US) or rattan basket (Europe)
Louis XIII transition era bottle, 1962–1963
1962–1968

Transition

Spear points up at the “R”; red oval box
Classic era Louis XIII in octagonal red box, 1969–1978
1969–1978

Classic

Octagonal box, Battle of Jarnac tag
Louis XIII Asian market Saint Louis crystal bottle, 1969–1981
1969–1981

Asian Market

“Saint Louis” and “Co. SA” on the base
Gold-top era Louis XIII Baccarat decanter, 1979–2002
1979–2002

Gold-Top

Gold capsule, solid Fleur-de-Lys stopper
Louis XIII Rendez-Vous 2000 special edition, 1999
1999

Rendez-Vous 2000

“2000A” engraved on the base

Six things to check

No single feature is definitive. Use all six, and make sure bottle, stopper, box and card all match.

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.

Common myth: no Baccarat logo on the base does not mean pre-war. Many 1946–50 bottles lack it too; the logo became standard only after 1950.

01Global

1870–1936

Pre-Baccarat

Hand-Blown Glass & Early Commercial Bottles

  • Hand-blown glass with visible bubbles, almost certainly not Baccarat
  • Irregular fins: 8 to 17 per side on early types, 9 on 1900–36 commercial bottles
  • Base blank, or DEPOSE cast faintly into the glass
  • Rectangular “Age Inconnu” label
Full spec sheet & notes
ManufacturerUnknown. 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 EngravingNone; or the word DEPOSE cast into the glass (barely visible). Some show only a cast number (e.g. No.10).
FinsHighly irregular. Known examples: 8 & 9 fins (Type 1), 11 fins (Type 2), 17 & 16 fins (Type 3). Post-1900 commercial: 9 fins per side.
StopperVery coarse design. Irregular hand-ground insert. Rough cut-off under the insert.
Fleur-de-LysGold-plated medallions with random orientation on early types. Later commercial bottles more consistent but still irregular.
PackagingUnknown 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.

Pre-Baccarat hand-blown glass Louis XIII bottle, c.1870s Pre-Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Pre-Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 Pre-Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4 Pre-Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 5 Pre-Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 6
02EuropeUSA

1937–1940

First Baccarat

Early Crystal Decanters — No Engraved Logo

  • Baccarat crystal, but no engraved logo (paper label only, often missing)
  • Base engraved “E. Rémy Martin & Cie”, individually numbered
  • Stopper numbered to match the decanter
  • Slim Centaur seal, spear pointing at the “Y” of Rémy
Full spec sheet & notes
ManufacturerBaccarat crystal — but no engraved logo or name. Identification relied solely on a paper Baccarat label (registered trademark since 1860, now frequently missing).
Base EngravingE. Rémy Martin & Cie, Cognac France. Decanters individually numbered (e.g. No.2, 6, 10, 12, 39, 40, 42, 59).
StopperNumbered to match the decanter. Stamped glass Fleur-de-Lys medallion on top. Interior occasionally "contaminated" with white specks from fabrication.
Seal / CorkSlim Centaur with spear handle pointing at the "Y" of Rémy (old-style logo).
US LabelBean-shaped "Louis XIII Brand — Rarest Reserve." Appears 12–15 years before Rémy Martin claims to have introduced the name in America.
European LabelRectangular "Age Inconnu."
Card1938 Royal Banquet Card — some blank on one side, others bilingual French/English.
PackagingTwo types: plain cardboard shipping box, or Red Velvet presentation case similar to the 1946 green cases.
US ImporterJoseph 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.

First Baccarat Louis XIII decanter, 1937–1940 First Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 First Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 First Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4 First Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 5 First Baccarat era Louis XIII decanter, photo 6
03Global

1941–1945

World War II

World War II — No Production

  • Production fully suspended from 1941 to 1945
  • A “WW2-era” set is almost always mismatched parts. Check every component
Full spec sheet & notes
StatusLouis 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.

04EuropeUSA

1946–1961

Post-War

Two Markets, Two Names — The Split Identity Era

  • Baccarat logo on the base only after about 1950. Earlier bottles have the name only
  • US: bean-shaped “Louis XIII Brand, Rarest Reserve”. Europe: “Age Inconnu”
  • US cases: green velvet (1946–58), then red cardboard with gold Centaur (1959–61)
  • Europe: rattan basket
Full spec sheet & notes
ManufacturerBaccarat. 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 LabelRectangular "Age Inconnu" continues through the 1950s. Rattan basket packaging.
US LabelBean-shaped "Louis XIII Brand — Rarest Reserve." Renfield Importers Ltd. listed on back label from 1946 onward.
US Packaging1946–56: 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.
Card1938 Royal Banquet Card through the 1950s. 1957 Royal Visit Card for newer sets. Both types coexist.
US ImporterRenfield 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.

Post-war Louis XIII 'Louis XIII Brand' Rarest Reserve, 1946–1950 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 5 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 6 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 7 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 8 Post-War era Louis XIII decanter, photo 9
05GlobalUSA

1962–1968

Transition

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

  • 1962 is the last “Age Inconnu” year. From 1963, “Louis XIII” everywhere
  • New Centaur: spear points up at the “R” of Martin
  • 1964–68 bottles are unnumbered
  • Red oval split “silk” box (1964–68), almost only in North America
Full spec sheet & notes
1962 — Key YearLast 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 LogoSpear now points up at the "R" of Martin — replacing the old logo where the spear handle pointed at the "Y" of Rémy.
Numbering1962–63: Some numbered (e.g. 80, 316, 832). 1964–68: Not numbered — the first era with no serial numbers at all.
LabelBean-shaped "Tres Vieille" or "Rarest Reserve." Volume (0.7L) indicated on European bottles for the first time.
Packaging 1962–63Plain white/cream cardboard with silk liner and gold trim. Lid features old or new Centaur depending on production date.
Packaging 1964–68Red 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.
Card1938 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.

Louis XIII transition era bottle, 1962–1963 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 5 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 6 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 7 Transition era Louis XIII decanter, photo 8
06EuropeUSA

1969–1978

Classic

Octagonal Box — Return of the Old Centaur

  • Octagonal red “silk” box
  • “Battle of Jarnac” hanging tag replaces the Royal Banquet card
  • Old fat Centaur returns on the seal
  • Unnumbered, logo centered on the base. Later bottles show painted markings and mold lines
Full spec sheet & notes
BottleNot 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 EngravingNew layout: Baccarat logo centered. No individual serial numbers.
Seal / CorkReturn of the old-style fat Centaur (spear handle at "Y" of Rémy) — after nearly a decade of the new logo. An unexplained design reversal.
LabelBean-shaped with "Tres Vieille," "Very Old," or "Rarest Reserve" designation.
CardNew "Battle of Jarnac" hanging tag replaces the Royal Banquet Cards that had been used since 1938.
PackagingOctagonal 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).

Classic era Louis XIII in octagonal red box, 1969–1978 Classic era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Classic era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 Classic era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4 Classic era Louis XIII decanter, photo 5 Classic era Louis XIII decanter, photo 6 Classic era Louis XIII decanter, photo 7
07Asia

1969–1981

Asian Market

Japanese Market — A Second Crystal Maker

  • Made by Saint Louis crystal, not Baccarat, for Japan
  • Base reads “E. Rémy Martin & Co. SA”. “SA” dates it to the 1960s or later
  • 10 very regular fins, clear ridge around the base
  • All-crystal stopper that doesn’t fit the decanter well
Full spec sheet & notes
ManufacturerSaint 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.
Fins10 fins per side, very regular shape. Some examples 9 fins. Clearly defined ridge around the base.
Base EngravingE. 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).
StopperAll-crystal stopper (1969–78); later standard hollow crystal. Does not fit the decanter properly — considered lower quality by crystal collectors.
LabelBean-shaped "Tres Vieille" or "Grand Champagne — Very Old" (French and English versions exist).
PackagingOctagonal 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.

Louis XIII Asian market Saint Louis crystal bottle, 1969–1981 Asian Market era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Asian Market era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3
08Global

1979–2002

Gold-Top

The Modern Baccarat — Numbered Again, 23 Years Running

  • Gold capsule over the cork
  • Solid-core Fleur-de-Lys stopper, the most reliable single sign
  • Numbered again: 1–2 letters + 4 digits
  • Clear plastic decals instead of paper labels; square red box with pyramid lid
Full spec sheet & notes
ManufacturerBaccarat (primary). Saint Louis also produced some bottles, typically for the Asian export market but occasionally found elsewhere.
Base EngravingNew layout: Baccarat logo centered, with "Baccarat Cristal" and "Liquor Bottle." Numbered again — 1–2 letters + 4 digits. Early bottles hand-engraved; later machine-engraved.
StopperNew solid-core "Fleur-de-Lys" stopper — replaces all previous hollow and numbered designs. The most reliable single indicator of this era.
SealGold 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.
LabelPaper labels eliminated entirely. Clear plastic decals with gold lettering for content and importer information replace them.
CardNo hanging tag cards. The card tradition ends with this generation.
PackagingSquare red box with truncated pyramid lid and gold lettering. Runs through 2002 with only minor cosmetic changes.
US ImporterRémy-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.

Gold-top era Louis XIII Baccarat decanter, 1979–2002 Gold-Top era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Gold-Top era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 Gold-Top era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4 Gold-Top era Louis XIII decanter, photo 5 Gold-Top era Louis XIII decanter, photo 6
09Global

1999

Rendez-Vous 2000

Rendez-Vous 2000 — A Millennium Commission

  • Base engraved with the decanter number / 2000A: one of exactly 2,000 bottles
  • Standard Fleur-de-Lys stopper, not numbered
  • Special artwork on the bottle and its presentation case
Full spec sheet & notes
Base EngravingSpecial markings: Baccarat logo + decanter number / 2000A + logo indicating limited series of 2,000 bottles. Machine engraved. Bottle size (0.75L) also engraved.
StopperStandard Fleur-de-Lys solid core stopper — not individually numbered on this edition.
SealGold capsule with stamped metal cap over cork — same as standard gold-top bottles.
LabelClear plastic decal with gold lettering. Rémy-Cointreau / Rémy Amerique Inc. listed as US importer.
ContentStandard Louis XIII Grande Champagne cognac. The collectible value is driven by the limited run and special artwork — not by any difference in the spirit.
PresentationSpecial 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.

Louis XIII Rendez-Vous 2000 special edition, 1999 Rendez-Vous 2000 era Louis XIII decanter, photo 2 Rendez-Vous 2000 era Louis XIII decanter, photo 3 Rendez-Vous 2000 era Louis XIII decanter, photo 4

Dating cheat sheet

Match what you see to a date range. Combine several clues.

What you see → what it tells you (25 clues)
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

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.

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.

More about Louis XIII

The house, the cognac and the market, for when you want the full story.

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 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, the first French monarch to formally recognize cognac as a spirit. The blend reached international attention at the 1900 Paris Universal Exhibition.

1569

The Decanter's Origin

Paul-Émile modeled the decanter on a 16th-century metal flask carried by a chevalier at the battlefield of Jarnac in 1569, later unearthed and used as the mold. The form — rounded body, fluted fins, fleur-de-lys medallions — has stayed fundamentally unchanged since. Every Louis XIII decanter traces its 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
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, most prized of Cognac's six crus, just 4% of the appellation's vineyards, with chalk-rich soils suited to century-long aging. Rémy Martin's other expressions blend Grande and Petit Champagne; Louis XIII is 100% Grande Champagne, double-distilled in copper pot stills smaller than conventional ones.

The Tierçons

Barrels Older Than the Republic

Louis XIII ages in tierçons — oversized Limousin oak barrels, handmade and air-dried at least three years, then reused for decades. Some in the cellars date to 1744. A new tierçon first holds young eaux-de-vie; beyond 50 years old, it holds material destined for the final blend. About 15 replacements are made each year, restored by four dedicated in-house coopers.

The Blend

Up to 1,200 Eaux-de-Vie

The final blend assembles up to 1,200 individual eaux-de-vie, aged 40 to 100 years, chosen by only five experts and checked against previous years for consistency. It then spends an additional four years in a tierçon before moving to the Baccarat decanter — a journey that can span an entire century.

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
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.

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.

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 more — condition, completeness, and documented provenance drive the premium. A rare Black Pearl discovered on a Mediterranean cruise ship, estimated by Bonhams at £5,000–£7,000, ultimately sold for £10,350.

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.

About this guide

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.

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Gold-top era Louis XIII decanter

Source: research by Michael at Vieux Cognacs (vieuxcognacs.com), October 2013. Presented for reference only; dates are approximate.