St-Rémy marks 130 years with XO pack design

Rémy Cointreau-owned brandy St-Rémy is celebrating its 130^th anniversary this year with the release of a limited edition gift box for its XO expression.

Founded in 1886 by Paul-Emile Rémy Martin II, the St-Rémy distillery in Machecoul, near Nantes in France, was commissioned the same year as Eiffel Tower plans were approved.

To celebrate the anniversary, St-Rémy XO is being dressed in a special anniversary gift box which highlights key words associated with St-Rémy, France and with “authentic taste”.

The St-Rémy XO liquid itself was blended by Martine Pain, the current St Rémy cellar master, one century after the distillery’s opening

“Carefully selected, our French wine eaux-de-vie are mainly double-distilled in columns,” explained Pain.

“Among these eaux-de-vie, one is more slowly distilled in a copper pot still to fully extract the aromatic intensity from exceptional terroir wines. The result is a brandy of distinct character.

“Ageing in small French oak barrels allows this intense blend to develop a deep amber colour with gold reflections. It lingers gracefully on the palate and, with notes of oaky vanilla, sweet red berries and gingerbread, St-Rémy XO offers brandy connoisseurs a taste of genuine refinement. St-Rémy XO is intended to be enjoyed neat, on the rocks or in cocktails.”

Throughout the year, dedicated activations are being held to highlight St-Rémy’s 130^th anniversary, with the St Rémy limited edition pack is available in domestic and travel retail outlets for six months ending October 2016.

According to the International Wines & Spirits Record, St-Rémy is ranked second in the global brandy category in terms of travel retail sales volumes, with a 13.6% market share, behind Metaxa.

The St-Rémy brand increased its travel retail case sales from 86,000 to 104,000 in the last five years.

In its 2015/16 financial year, parent company Rémy Cointreau reported global net sales growth of 8.9% as it recovered from long-running challenges in Asia.