‘Rare’ Louis XIII Cognac collab readies for auction

Louis XIII Cognac has collaborated with French luxury houses Hermès, Puiforcat and Saint-Louis to release L’Odyssée D’Un Roi – three unique bottlings set to be auctioned in regional one-lot sales.

Louis XIII collaborated with Hermès, Puiforcat and Saint-Louis to release L’Odyssée D’Un Roi

Translating as ‘Journey of a King’, the “masterpieces” contain a rare blend of Louis XIII, and are expected to fetch between US$100,000-500,000 each.

Inspired by the first shipments of Louis XIII in the late 1870s, the collaboration spans a European Edition, an Asia Edition, and an Americas Edition, each etched with a 19th-century map of its correlating region.

The Rémy Martin-owned brand will make the first edition available through Sotheby’s in September, with all proceeds benefiting The Film Foundation’s cinematic heritage preservation efforts, founded by director Martin Scorsese.

Each lot includes a 1.75 litre crystal magnum decanter mouth-blown by Saint-Louis, which containis an exclusive blend of Louis XIII Cognac and is etched with a 19th-century map. A bespoke trunk designed and hand-crafted by Hermès accompanies the bottle, along with four tasting glasses by Saint-Louis, all hand-blown and etched with 19th-century maps of different countries within the respective region.

The set is completed with a white gold pipette crafted and engraved by Puiforcat, and a book chronicling the historic journeys of Louis XIII across the world.

The sets are expected to fetch between US$100,000-500,000 each

More than 50 individual artisans are said to have devoted over 1,000 hours to produce each creation.

Ludovic du Plessis, Louis XIII global executive director, said: “It is truly the result of a work of art and genius, a veritable tribute to craftsmanship and time. Much like the time, finesse and care it takes to create Louis XIII, so it is with the process of preserving classic cinema.”

“We’re grateful to Louis XIII for its support of The Film Foundation,” said Martin Scorsese, “the foundation’s film preservation work protects the cinematic heritage that we all share. The partnership with Louis XIII is an excellent way to highlight the foundation’s preservation, education, and exhibition programs.

“No matter where or when a film was made, a century ago or a decade ago, the foundation is committed to ensuring that all films survive to be seen by future generations.”

L’Odyssée D’Un Roi is currently on show in a travelling exhibition prior to auction, and will be available in London in September and Paris in October.