LOUIS XIII Cognac Unveils Its Rare Cask 42.1 Limited to 775 Unique Decanters

Limited to just 775 units across the globe, LOUIS XIII Cognac has unveiled its highly anticipated Rare Cask 42.1, a result of ten years of devotion all bottled in unique black crystal decanters by Baccarat.

After the highly coveted release of two Rare Casks – Rare Cask 43.8 in 2004 and Rare Cask 42.6 in 2009 – LOUIS XIII Cognac has finally unveiled its third masterpiece: the Rare Cask 42.1. The tierçon was discovered by the brand’s fifth-generation Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau more than 10 years ago, but the right moment to bottle its contents came only a decade later, after the culmination of his memories, emotions and instincts brought him to this verdict.

“The initial preparation came from Pierrette Trichet, the Cellar Master who passed down to me the knowledge and savoir-faire she in turn had received,” says Loiseau. “Then comes a profound knowledge of all the finest eaux-de-vie we hold in our cellars to recreate this complexity. It’s a mixture of science, of course, but also intuition, you have to let yourself go and let LOUIS XIII lead the way.”

Described as inexplicable, unpredictable, unknown and unfamiliar, the Rare Cask 42.1 carries a uniquely exceptional aromatic profile that no other LOUIS XIII Cognac release has ever encountered before. To capture this remarkable tipple, the French maison paired up with compatriot Baccarat to create 775 unique decanters carrying jewel-like black finish, requiring more than 50 precise steps to produce by 20 master craftsmen.

The neck of the decanters is dressed in gold and rhodium, with finely engraved quadrilobed patterns on the ring referencing France’s emblematic fleur de lys. Each bottle is also accompanied by crystal glasses ornated with black quatrefoils as well as a polished serving pipette adorned with a black medallion.

“While the singularity of a Rare Cask rests on a miracle given by nature, the know-how that is necessary to its creation was born from a transmission of an art, from generation to generation, where each cellar master perpetuates the gestures of his predecessors,” says Loiseau. “To discover Rare Cask 42.1, I listened to my instincts and favoured emotion to science. I called upon my memories.”

To celebrate its launch, just like the ones in Guilin Caves, China for Rare Cask 43.8 and Udaipur, India for Rare Cask 42.6, LOUIS XIII hosted an exclusive event in Venice, Italy, with a theme of ‘Care For Wonders,’ inviting its most prestigious guests to attend. For those unable to visit Venice, only a very limited number of decanters of the Rare Cask 42.1 are allocated for Hong Kong and Macau, so act fast if you want a chance to experience this exquisite elixir.

“When you taste LOUIS XIII, the imagination is let loose to explore its rich territories,” says Loiseau. “There is no set way to experience it. It’s sharing the moment that matters most, and letting the words and feelings flow.”

To learn more about LOUIS XIII Cognac’s Rare Cask 42.1, please contact: 9100 5727