THE GOLDEN AGE

At the launch of the L'Or de Jean Martell collection in Cognac, France, Martell's cellar master Christophe Valtaud unveils the first limited-edition expression of the Réserve du Château series

- Dawson Tan

As we step over gravelled grounds, the 18th‑century Château de Chanteloup comes into view. The historic manor of the Martell family in Cognac, France, has been at the heart of the cognac house’s deep love for the brown spirits for generations. On this chilly December evening, 30 guests, including Tatler Singapore, descend on the estate from around the world to pay homage to its storied history and fete the launch of the L’Or de Jean Martell Réserve du Château series with the unveiling of the L’Or de Jean Martell Réserve du Château de Chanteloup. This is the first release from the ultra‑prestigious L’Or de Jean Martell collection, which will be launched in partnership with a different French château every year to honour Martell’s art de vivre and heritage since it was founded in 1715.

Crafting the L’Or de Jean Martell collection is no easy feat, as we discover from a tour of the distillery on the grounds hosted by the maison’s cellar masters, including Christophe Valtaud. As he takes us through the cellar and the archive room—which feels like a step back in time with the precious records and research findings of founder Jean Martell about the effects of wood (in crafting blends) and the ageing processes—Valtaud tells us that his vision for the new collection began with the exquisite “base” blend created in 1993 by a team of expert blenders.