Rare Cognacs making an entrance: Deep pockets needed

Rémy Martin Cognac has just announced that its Louis XIII Rare Cask 42.6 cognac (the number refers to the alcohol level), the second release in the Rare Cask Collection, will be sold not only at specialist retailers but also at duty-free shops at airports in London, Amsterdam, Paris, Singapore -- and Los Angeles. It’s made with old casks, or tierçons, up to a century old.

The Cognac is housed inside a black Baccarat crystal decanter, limited edition, bien sûr, and numbered from 1 to 738.

Where was the launch of Rare Cask 42.6 held? In Udaipur, India.

But who, other than a Saudi prince, is going to step over to the duty-free to pick up a bottle with a suggested price of $23,000 just as their plane is boarding? With a spirit that expensive, it’s all about provenance — and the idea that you, big spender, bought it at the duty-free just doesn’t fly. No mystery. No story. No thrill of the chase. Well, you could send your audience to the mind-boggling slick video of the bottle turning, turning in space.

Checking my secret design addiction, unicaworld.com, I see a mention on their blog “Out and About-Local Las Vegas Dining” (written by “Nobody Special”) that 3-star Michelin chef Guy Savoy, who has Restaurant Guy Savoy at Caesars Palace, has installed a Cognac bar there where he’s serving 32 fabulously expensive and rare Cognacs from his collection. Prices range from $20 for a 2-ounce snifter of Courvoisier “Napoléon” to $500 for the same amount of Rémy Martin Louis XIII to $700 for an ounce pour of Hine “Talent.”

Until now, I’ve been more of an Armagnac enthusiast myself, but given the chance to taste some of these rarefied spirits, I’m thinking I just might get into enjoying Cognac. But first: I need to win big at poker or the lottery.

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