The Brandy of Napoleon VSOP Bottled 1970s
⏳ Drinking Window
Ready to drink now. As a distilled spirit, it does not mature further in the bottle and will remain stable indefinitely if kept sealed and stored away from direct sunlight.
🍽️ Food & Wine Pairings
Dark chocolate, blue cheese, roasted duck
✨ Technical Specifications
This historic bottling of Courvoisier VSOP, dating from the 1970s, carries the legendary moniker 'The Brandy of Napoleon'—a title rooted in the historic relationship between the house and the French Emperor, who famously took cases of Courvoisier with him into exile on St. Helena. Bottled during an era when cognac houses maintained exceptionally high standards for their VSOP reserves, this release showcases the traditional craftsmanship of Jarnac. It is distilled from grapes harvested across the premier crus of the Cognac region, primarily Ugni Blanc, and double-distilled in classic Charentais copper alembic stills. The spirit was aged in hand-selected French oak casks from the Limousin and Tronçais forests, resulting in a mature, complex profile rich with notes of dried stone fruits, warm baking spices, old leather, and a delicate rancio characteristic of older bottlings.
🍾 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.
🍷 ABV
40%