Initiale Extra
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to enjoy upon release, this fully matured spirit can be kept indefinitely when stored upright in a cool, dark place.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
dark chocolate, blue cheese, roasted duck
✨ Technical Specifications
Courvoisier Initiale Extra is a rare and prestigious Cognac that represents the pinnacle of the house's blending art. It is crafted from a selection of extremely old, rare eaux-de-vie sourced primarily from the Grande Champagne and Borderies crus, some of which have aged for several decades in the house's historic cellars. The blend marries the deep, structured, and intensely floral character of Grande Champagne with the exotic, spicy, and velvety qualities of ancient Borderies. Legend has it that the house's connection to Napoleon Bonaparte, who visited the warehouses in Bercy and later took Courvoisier rations to St. Helena, inspired the pursuit of such majestic, long-aged blends. The slow maturation in fine-grained French oak casks imparts complex notes of truffle, old port, cedarwood, and dried fruits, resulting in a legendary rancio character highly prized by connoisseurs.
🍾 About the Producer
Established formally in Jarnac in 1828 by Félix Courvoisier and Jules Gallois—following spirit merchant roots founded earlier by Emmanuel Courvoisier and Louis Gallois—Maison Courvoisier is one of the historic 'Big Four' houses of Cognac. Perched along the banks of the Charente River, Courvoisier operates primarily via long-term contracts with regional winegrowers rather than through vast estate vineyard ownership. The house relies on grapes harvested across four crus—Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, and Fins Bois—distilling wines both on fine lees and without lees to achieve aromatic balance. Aging unfolds in tight-grained Tronçais and Limousin oak casks, forging the signature floral and vibrant profile characterized as 'Cognac in Blossom.' Now owned by Campari Group and directed by Master Blender Thibaut Hontanx, Courvoisier balances historical cuvées like the Napoleon, VSOP, and XO Royal alongside modern collector releases such as the Mizunara Edition and L'Essence de Courvoisier.
🍇 Base Material
Ugni Blanc
🍷 ABV
40%