Cognac Delamain: history, interesting facts, types

The products of the Delamain brand are aged and vintage cognacs of outstanding quality, which are the pride of the creators and the close attention of collectors from all over the world.

Real "living water", one of the best in France, is produced by the oldest and most respected family company, which dates back to the days of chivalry.

It is noteworthy that the House does not have its own vineyards, so the owners buy alcohol for the creation of cognacs from local farmers.

The history of the Delaman brand

Henri Delamain, who founded the company "Maison Delamain" in 1824, is considered to be the founder of the great cognac House. But the family brand was founded long before that.

In 1759, Henri's grandfather, Irishman James Delaman, left his "emerald" homeland and settled in his own estate in Jarnac. A few years later, he married the daughter of merchant Isaac Ranson, who was engaged in the supply of French cognac to European countries.

James became a partner of his father-in-law, and after a while, a co-owner of the company called The Ranson & The House of Delaman".

In the XIX century, the company was run by the descendants of the founders, who started a unique collection of vintage spirits, which today are valued at a fabulous amount.

In 1920, the Delamain family became the sole owner of the company, which, however, did not affect the established technology of beverage production.

For 200 years, the House has been producing and preserving its own philosophy and traditions of creating cognacs.

Today, Delamain is one of the few French manufacturers that have retained their independence and are authorized to produce vintage eaux-de-vie.

The annual production volume is only 600 thousand bottles, but each of them is a real masterpiece of taste.

Interesting facts

1. The company's motto is the words: "We start from where others stop". You can understand them only by studying the brand's assortment. And it includes exclusively mature cognacs, the youngest of which belongs to category X.O. (the "oldest" in the traditional classification).

2. According to legend, the company's family archive contains a correspondence between James Delamain and Richard Hennessy (the founder of another legendary French brand), in which the former teaches the latter the art of creating cognacs.

3. n 1935, a representative of the famous family, Robert Delamayne, wrote the book "The History of Cognac". It is still considered the most thorough work on this topic.

4. Since the beginning of the XXI century, the company has been managed by the equally well-known French manufacturer Bollinger. He owns part of the shares of the House of Delamain.

The specifics of production

The owners of the brand believe that the basis of their success is a reverent attitude to time and traditions. There is no place for haste and negligence in the Delamen technology. For 2 hundred years, the process of creating cognacs has hardly changed:

1. The company's specialists do not work with grapes or wine materials, immediately purchasing ready-made distillates from trusted farmers in the Grande Champagne region. Special attention is paid to the evaluation of spirits, selecting the best of them within a few weeks.

2. Only old barrels made of French oak are used for aging. Such wood contains less tannins, helping to preserve the fruit flavors and delicate character of cognacs, but requires longer maturation.

   The aging process is strictly controlled by the cellar master, who tastes the drinks and, if necessary, moves the barrels from one cellar to another (increasing or decreasing humidity, temperature, air access, etc.). д.).

3. After the cognacs reach the highest degree of maturity (in 20-60 years), they proceed to "marriage" (blending), combining spirits of the same generation (of similar age). Then the drink is given time to come into harmony, keeping the mixture in oak for another 2 years.

4. The strength of cognacs is reduced not with distilled water, but with weak 15% alcohols ("vieilles faibles"), introduced in several steps so as not to disturb the balance of the components.

   Bottling is carried out manually from one barrel under the personal control of the owner of the House, the bottles are pre-rinse with cognac.

Types of Delamain cognac

Each collection of Delamain cognacs is exclusive and produced in limited batches. There are 3 main series:

1. Pale & Dry

   An elegant line of 25-year aging, first introduced almost 100 years ago.

   Differs in delicate character and rich bouquet.

   The aroma is dominated by notes of apricot, vanilla, honey and citrus.

   Taste: light, delicate, soft, with a long, full-bodied fruity finish.

   

2. Vesper

   An exquisite collection first released in the 1950s. Aging period: 35 years. The name is translated from Latin as "evening star", which emphasizes the quiet but at the same time fascinating character of the drinks.

   The aroma is dominated by tones of vine, vanilla, dried fruits, tobacco and honey.

   Taste: soft, round, full-bodied, mature, with a smooth satin finish.

   

3. Le Très Vénéré

   A luxurious series aged for 45 years, embodying the highest degree of cognac art.

   Aroma: intense and assertive, yet delicate.

   Taste: full, soft, deep, with intense fruitiness, subtle lingering notes of liquorice and an exquisitely balanced finish.

   

For true connoisseurs, the Delamain House regularly produces vintage cognacs available only to the most affluent tasters.

Update: 12.06.2019

Category: Brandy and Cognac