In 1715, Jean Martell, a young merchant originally from Jersey, created his own trading business at Gatebourse in Cognac, on the banks of the Charente, and thus founded one of the very first cognac houses. Martell used grapes from the vineyards in the Borderie subregion, and used Tronçais oak for its casks, this made a combination that resulted in an exceptionally smooth cognac. After his death in 1753, his widow and then his two sons and grandson continued this tradition and developed the export business to make Martell the number one in England in 1814.
In 1831, Martell created his first ‘VSOP’ (Very Superior Old Pale) cognac and continued its international expansion. Its fame spread throughout the world, with the first exports to Japan and other Asian markets, such as Indonesia, Vietnam, Malaysia and Korea.
In the 2000s, Martell created new cognacs: ‘Martell XO’ in 2005, ‘Martell Création Grand Extra’ in 2007, in a bottle designed by the artist and glass designer Serge Mansau. In 2009, Martell cognac launched its signature cognac, ‘L’Or de Jean Martell’. In 2011, Martell expanded its ‘Ultra-Prestige’ range with an exceptional cognac, ‘Martell Chanteloup Perspective’, a tribute to the know-how of the cellar masters and to the Domaine de Chanteloup. But Cordon Bleu, created in 1912 by Edouard Martell, is certainly the company’s most famous product.
To commemorate the centenary of the creation of Martell’s beloved Cordon Bleu, the French Maison has teamed up with Parisian fine jewelry house Boucheron, to create the most exquisite tribute yet: a one-off, bejeweled edition of the iconic blue bottle. The Ultimate Jewel is the loving result of combining both Maison’s passions – fine spirit and high jewelry – into a sumptuous work of art, for transforming the finest and rarest of raw materials into either exquisite blends or timeless jewellery.
Made of the finest crystal, diamond, gold and lapis-lazuli, the bottle artfully highlights Martell’s house motifs in a poetic way. Every detail, from the bottle’s neck to the travelling case, was designed with infinite attention, making this a true collector’s item. The Martell swallow, for instance, is wrought in gold with a diamond eye, and is seen holding up the centenary’s symbol, the infinity sign, in its beak, like a fine satin ribbon.
The bottle is testimony to both Martell and Boucheron, with the symbol of a swallow and the name Martell linking gracefully to the infinity sign (representing 100 years of Cordon Bleu), along with Boucheron’s key codes of the color blue, a cabochon and gold sculpture work through the godron. The bottle is presented in a specially designed hand-crafted box in the blue colours of two Maisons and lined with an ivory veal leather skin interior.
On the 22nd March 2012, this one off, collector piece, which was launched by Edouard Martell in 1912 at the Hotel de Paris in Monaco, celebrated its 100th birthday in the same place, in front of guests such as H.S.H Prince Albert, H.S.H. Princess Charlène and H.R.H. Caroline de Hanover at the Cordon Bleu Centenary celebrations.
The Ultimate Jewel will be auctioned in China at the end of the year to mark the culmination of Martell Cordon Bleu’s centenary celebration. Head over to Martell’s dedicated site to learn more about the cognac house.
Come into the beautiful world of Martell’s.
Yakymour Men 