Brandyclassics unique knowledge and understanding of cognac producers and our relationship with many old firms has established over the years associations with many early cognac firms and families who have kept some of these very old pre-phylloxera cognacs in cellars. The Phylloxera, or to give it its full name, Phylloxera Vastatrix louse attacked the vine roots in the early 1870’s and decimated most of the vines until the end of the century. The effect of the plague was to make cognacs made before 1900 increasingly rare and expensive. Many of the very old nectars dating from the early 1800’s have been passed through their families for generations and are still in good condition. These old brandies are naturally becoming rarer as the years go by and have increased in value considerably, and as a result we can only offer what is available at the time.

One of the greatest difficulties is that we often have to reject bottles that have been offered to us, since our experience tells us that what is in the bottle is not always of a suitable quality. Often it is only possible for us to obtain a single bottle or at best a few bottles at a time, sometimes they have been stored in conditions that do not favour the label if indeed there is a label still attached, sometimes the bottles have been stored for longer than they should have been without the corks having been changed and sealed. Whatever the condition we rigorously check every bottle and where ever possible provide as much information about where it came from and how it was made.

Very few of these old cognacs were made by the firm whose name appears on the bottle. It was not until 1857 that a law was passed allowing merchants to register their trademark and thus assert their authority on the market with their own label. Prior to this merchants blended brandies from the growers and used their own labels rarely offering any clue as to where the brandy was made. Even today more than 90% of all cognacs are sold by merchants or “negoçiant's” as they are known. There are a few old exceptions where some growers have kept small quantities in their cellars and labelled them after 1857, probably the finest of these was the Massougnes whose family can be traced back to 1730 and who later sold their cognacs to the likes of Hennessey, Augier and Martell. Two valuable imperial three quarter gallon bottles of Massougnes can be seen in the picture below.

Some of Brandyclassics collection of pre-phylloxera cognacs, the oldest being a Hardy 1786.

For more detailed information on these very old cognacs and brandies contact Brandyclassics cognacs@brandyclassics.com  or call 00 44 (0)1225 863988

 Five generations of cognac families since 1863 much of which comes from the Borderies

	Producer:   Camus Product:   Camus and Soda Cru:   Unknown Price:   £572.00 (£672.10 incl. VAT) Code:   P.C04.X.A0000.1.6a    Description: Made during the war years to try and get people to buy more cognac and mix it with soda. It was never a success but the bottle is unique and a fine example.
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 Respected small negoçiant

	Producer:   A.E. Dor Product:   A.E.Dor Vintage 1818 Cru:   Grande Champagne Price:   £2,398.00 (£2,817.65 incl. VAT) Code:   P.D01.A.V1818.1.6a    Description: Almost certainly made from the Folle grape variety and has a dry and hazelnut style consistent with cognacs of that era.
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 Famous name from the late 1800's

	Producer:   Dupont Product:   Dupont 1921 Cru:   Unknown Price:   £660.00 (£775.50 incl. VAT) Code:   P.D07.X.V1921.1.6a    Description: Dupont was founded in 1872 and it's heydays were in the the late 1800's. Many fine cognacs have been supplied by this well known name.
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 Bordeaux negoçiant

	Producer:   Eschenauer Product:   Eschenaeur & Co 1830 Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £5,005.00 (£5,880.88 incl. VAT) Code:   P.E03.H.V1830.1.6a    Description: At a recent tasting in France, this was rated as one of the finest cognacs of the period and its strength is still around 40 degrees. Probably one of our best finds and at a very sensible price as well.
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	Producer:   Fine Champagne Product:   Fine Champagne 1808 Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £8,800.00 (£10,340.00 incl. VAT) Code:   P.F02.H.V1808.1.6a    Description: This bottle is in excellent condition and contains about 95cl. The cognac from this period was produced from the Folle grape variety and usually distilled on the farms where it was grown.
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 Company closed, wonderful pre-phylloxera cognacs

Producer:   Sezerac de Forge Product:   Sezerac de Forge Vintage 1805 Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £10,989.00 (£12,912.08 incl. VAT) Code:   P.F06.H.V1805.1.6a    Description: This comes from an estate north of the Charente between Jarnac and Angouleme. The region was known for the qualities of the chalk enabling quality grapes to be grown. Sadly this house closed around the middle of the 20th century.

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 Old family firm, no longer family owned

	Producer:   A Hardy Product:   A Hardy Vintage 1805 Cru:   Grande Champagne Price:   £11,800.00 (£13,865.00 incl. VAT) Code:   P.H02.A.V1805.1.6b    Description: Perhaps one of the most famous names in old cognacs. There are few bottles of this cognac left. It was made during the battle of Trafalgar and it is claimed that the name is connected with the famous Captain Hardy.
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Producer:   Louis Philippe Product:   Reserve Louis Phillipe 1830 - King of France Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £9,780.00 (£11,491.50 incl. VAT) Code:   P.L01.H.V1830.1.6a    Description: Associated with the last King of France, Loius Phillipe was born in 1773 and ruled from 1830 until 1848 and comes from the Champagnes to the south of the main town of Cognac, an area recognised as the finest growing area for vines used to make the cognacs. This comes from a source believed to be a major grower and distiller of the period.

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 Historically famous pre-phylloxera cognacs

	Producer:   Massougnes Product:   Massougnes Vintage 1801 (Imperial ¾ gallon) Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £59,411.00 (£69,807.93 incl. VAT) Code:   P.M03.H.V1801.1.0a    Description: The estate was sadly lost during the phylloxera in 1874 but the last remaining descendant is still alive. The Comtesse de Bordelaise is a direct descendant of the last French Royalty.
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Producer:   Massougnes Product:   Massougnes Vintage 1805 (Imperial ¾ gallon) Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £58,382.00 (£68,598.85 incl. VAT) Code:   P.M03.H.V1805.1.0a    Description: Perhaps one of the most famous old cognacs of the era. The firm can be dated to 1730 and sold cognacs to Hennessey and other famous houses including Augier. This is the last remaining bottle of 1805 from Massougnes and was made during the Battle of Trafalgar.

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 19th Century negoçiant

Producer:   Albert Robin Product:   Albert Robin Cognac Soda 1935 Cru:   Unknown Price:   £352.00 (£413.60 incl. VAT) Code:   P.R03.X.V1935.1.6a    Description: Between the wars, cognac was gound to be a suitable mix with soda. This cognac was sold for just that purpose and is in an interesting shaspe bottle with a black label. We believe that it was probably only about 10 - 12 years old as that was a typical age for young cognacs at the time.

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 19th Century negoçiant

	Producer:   Jules Robin Product:   Jules Robin 1858 Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £11,682.00 (£13,726.35 incl. VAT) Code:   P.R04.H.V1858.1.6a    Description: This is a most unusual bottle in that the vintage is actually on the glass. It has a most attractive label and the bottle has been stored by an old cognac family.
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 Own label from a 19th Century negoçiant

	Producer:   Boilevin Product:   F.A. Boilevin 1800 Cru:   Pre 1900 Price:   £7,150.00 (£8,401.25 incl. VAT) Code:   P.B09.H.V1800.1.6a    Description: Superb hand made bottle, the label is even better having been kept in very good storage. A sample of the cognac was tasted some while ago and it was in very good condition.
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