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Delamain sets Cognac auction record
A 10-litre demijohn that holds a ‘historical’ blend by Cognac house Delamain has sold at Bonhams Cornette de Saint Cyr Fine Whisky & Spirits online auction for €93,000 (US$97,535).
L’Édition Rare du Bicentenaire is said to encapsulate 200 years of natural exploration and artisanal excellence by the House of Delamain.
Produced and bottled in 2024 for Delamain’s bicentenary, it is a 43% ABV blend of five ‘extremely rare’ Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, each selected by one of the last five Delamain family members entrusted with managing the house over the past century.
Amayès Aouli, global head of wine & spirits, Bonhams said: “In a strong and varied sale, the demijohn stood out for its rarity and desirability and not surprisingly emerged as the top lot with a selling price of €93,000. This bottle achieved a new world record price for a Cognac sold at auction in 2024.
“We were honoured to be entrusted by Delamain for this sale which is the culmination of a year-long partnership which featured incredible events across the globe.”
On the nose, it is said to offer aromas of raisins, prune and black cherry, while on the palate, hints of warm mocha coffee, spices and aged leather can be detected.
It is described as a ‘liquid ode’ to earlier generations and their ‘gifted’ savoir-faire, and has been made in collaboration by Delamain’s two most recent cellar masters, Dominique Touteau and Charles Braastad.
The project also marks the hand-over of the cellar keys to Braastad – a ninth-generation member of the Delamain family – after Touteau’s 42 years at Delamain, and the pair’s creative partnership of almost 30 years.
It is presented in a demijohn that has been crafted by goldsmith Maison Goossens, known for making ‘jewellery for the body and the home’. For its bicentenary, the House of Delamain called on the expertise of the Goossens team to conceptualise and create a gilded overlay for the demijohn, which embodies the house’s unique history and creative passions.
Maison Goossens took inspiration for the gilded design from the house’s vineyards, sketching out several designs that looked to celebrate them and their surrounding biodiversity.
The sketches began to take life in Goossens’ Paris atelier, with seven manufacturing stages that saw 245 individually shaped pieces incorporated.
The demijohn is stabilised in a woven brass basket, inspired by traditional techniques. Using a lost wax-casting technique, the pieces were moulded and then chiselled before being gold-plated and assembled to form a ‘naturalistic masterpiece’.
The result is the one-of-a-kind demijohn, which was sold at the auction for a hammer price of €93,000.
Eric Le Bouar, managing director of the House of Delamain, said: “Delamain was delighted to partner with Bonhams to bring global collectors a slice of Cognac’s immense history.
“Now that the masterpiece demijohn has found its fortunate owner, we are thrilled to offer to more connoisseurs the opportunity to savour this extremely rare Cognac by introducing 200 limited edition bottles of the same exquisite blend. Individually numbered and adorned with a medallion designed by Goossens, these exclusive time capsules are available in selected stores worldwide.”
The 200 bottles of L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire will be available for sale from this month (December), retailing at €6,000 (US$6,652) in selected stores around the world.
The buyer also received one of the 700ml bottles of L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire – numbered 000/200 – as well as a pipette. They will also have the opportunity to attend a two-day experience in Jarnac, France, with three additional guests.
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