‘Sublime Nectar’: World’s Oldest Barrel-Aged Cognac Clocks in at 100 Years Old and Is on Sale Now at Over $30,000

(Photo: Hermitage Cognac)

Days after Hennessy unveiled a metal-framed cognac commemorating the 300th anniversary of its founder, Hermitage is upping the ante with a century-old bottling, which it claims is the oldest barrel-aged cognac in history. Needless to say, it’s a dog-eat-dog world for high-end French spirits.

On Wednesday, Hermitage Cognac unveiled its grandiose Siècle d’Or. Distilled using Ugni Blanc grapes from the Lignières Sonneville region, the spirit was aged for 100 years in Limousin oak barrels. On the palate, it’s said to balance flavors of cocoa, burnt toffee, mushroom, ginger, kumquat and rancio, an ill-defined mustiness highly sought-after by cognac enthusiasts.

“This sublime nectar, christened ‘Siècle d’Or’ in homage to an illustrious golden century of French history, signifies immense quality and intense flavours generated during its hundred years in an oak barrel,” the brand wrote in a Facebook post announcing the release. “This limited-edition gem embodies the very essence of rarity and luxury, destined to become a treasured piece in the collection of the discerning connoisseur.”

The spirit is housed within a one-liter Cumbrian crystal decanter hand-blown and cut in the UK. Including taxes, the bottling is now on sale at £24,900 ($31,516).

Founded by David Baker in 1987, Hermitage has garnered a reputation for curating exceptionally rare French brandies. Browsing through its catalog, you’ll find bottlings that date back to 1920, 1890 and 1880, all would-be contenders for the world’s oldest cognac had they continuously rested in barrels since their inception.

Though Siècle d’Or may be the oldest barrel-aged cognac, it certainly isn’t the most expensive. That honor goes to Croizet Cuvée Leonie 1858, an elusive expression distilled with Roman grapes that fetched $156,760 at auction in 2011. The coveted cognac was rumored to have been sampled by Winston Churchill and Dwight D. Eisenhower on the eve before D-Day. If you aren’t willing to cough up its six-figure price tag, you’re more than welcome to pay $8,764 per shot at the InterContinental Hong Kong, the once-claimant of the Guinness World Record for “World’s Most Expensive Cognac Shot.”

Others have unsuccessfully attempted to steal the crown over the years. Hennessy made a splash in 2022 with the listing of its $226,500 cognac NFT, a ludicrous crypto investment, virtual showpiece and ultra-aged brandy wrapped into one. However, of the two editions released, neither are currently redeemed on BlockBar.

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