THE allure of Martell Cordon Bleu is in its smooth, mellow styling. With notes of candied fruit and spice, this XO cognac wraps your palate like velvet and lingers like a sweet memory.

When Edouard Martell created this blend 100 years ago, he knew he was onto something great. So confident was he that he gave the golden elixir a blue ribbon the universal mark of high quality and success.

What audacity, what arrogance. Yet, no one has disputed the fact that Martell Cordon Bleu is one remarkable cognac.

Edouard took over two years to craft and perfect his special cognac, a blend of over 100 carefully selected eaux-de-vie. The great-grandson of Martell founder Jean Martell, Edouard knew that the secret was in the crus. The house of Martell only works with four main crus in the Cognac Appellation d'Origine Contrle, namely the Grande and Petite Champagne, Fins Bois and Borderies. The latter is the smallest but is the veritable hallmark of all Martell cognacs, especially the Cordon Bleu.

Martell practices double distillation, keeping only the most refined eaux-de-vie in its cellars. These eaux-de-vie are then aged in old casks of fine-grained oak for decades, at least.

In 1910, Edouard and his cellar master, Auguste Chapeau, started work on a special cognac for the house. In some way, it was meant to be a tribute to his great-grandfather's philosophy on cognac-making "It must be the best, and without artifice".

When he debuted the Martell Cordon Bleu in a grand launch at Monte Carlo's iconic Htel de Paris in 1912, it was an instant hit throughout the world. Wherever the rich and powerful gathered, lived, played or travelled, there was Martell Cordon Bleu on the Orient Express, in the bars and eateries of the Compagnie Gnrale Transatlantique, on the maiden voyage of the Queen Mary in May 1936 and even on board the Concorde from 1975.

Today, on tabletops of premier hot spots around the globe, Martell Cordon Bleu remains a declaration of discerning taste and sophistication. In fact, Martell Cordon Bleu continues to be the social lubricant in various circles, from royalty and high-flying corporate captains to luminaries in the worlds of art, music and cinema.

In March, more than 250 illustrious guests from all over the world gathered in Monte Carlo to celebrate the centenary of this XO.

The location could not have been more appropriate. Paradisiacal weather over 300 days a year, with Mediterranean beaches at one end and ski trails of the Alps at the other, Monaco has served as the social epicentre of glamour and luxury for over 140 years now. Based on the number of luxury yachts moored at Port Hercules, it is apparent that the principality has yet to lose its lustre.

Originally posted here:
A mark of success