Fine & Rare Cognac Singapore | Collectible French Cognac

Frequently Asked Questions — Fine & Rare Cognac Singapore

What is Fine & Rare Cognac?

Fine & Rare Cognac is the prestige tier of collectible, investment-grade, and milestone Cognac bottles — typically ultra-aged eaux-de-vie blends (40+ years), prestige expressions like Louis XIII and Paradis, limited zodiac and artist editions, and rare vintage single-cru releases. At The Liquid Collection, the Fine & Rare Cognac collection comprises 17 prestige bottles above $1,000 SGD across France's four major Cognac houses: Rémy Martin (Louis XIII range), Hennessy (Paradis tier including the Year Of zodiac series), Martell (L'Or de Jean Martell and Single Cru), plus prestige limited editions. These are bottles for serious collectors, milestone gifting (Lunar New Year, anniversaries), corporate prestige hospitality, and once-in-a-lifetime tasting occasions.

What is the most expensive Cognac at The Liquid Collection?

Rémy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl at $28,888 SGD (35cl format) is The Liquid Collection's most expensive Cognac. Black Pearl is the prestige limited edition of Louis XIII, presented in a dark crystal decanter (versus the classic Baccarat crystal of the standard Louis XIII decanter). Below Black Pearl, the next-tier prestige Cognacs sit at $13,000–$15,000 SGD: L'Or de Jean Martell Zodiac Edition Assemblage du Serpent ($14,888), Hennessy Paradis Year of Tiger ($14,188), Rabbit X Yan Pei Ming ($13,988), Dragon X Yang Yong Liang ($13,888), and L'Or de Jean Martell Assemblage du Lapin ($13,888).

What is Rémy Martin Louis XIII?

Louis XIII is Rémy Martin's most prestigious Cognac — first created in 1874 and named after King Louis XIII of France in homage to the historic Cognac region. Each Louis XIII decanter is a blend of up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie aged 40 to 100 years, sourced exclusively from the Grande Champagne cru — the most prestigious of Cognac's six sub-regions. The wines are matured in tierçons, rare French oak casks aged 100+ years that are passed down through generations of Rémy Martin cellar masters. The signature crystal decanter (by Baccarat for the standard release) is inspired by a 16th-century flask found on a Cognac battlefield. The Liquid Collection stocks Louis XIII Black Pearl 35cl ($28,888), Louis XIII CNY 2026 Year of the Horse 70cl ($4,288), and Louis XIII The Classic Decanter 70cl ($3,888).

What is Hennessy Paradis?

Hennessy Paradis is one of Hennessy's most prestigious blends — sitting between XO and Richard Hennessy in the house hierarchy. Hennessy is the world's largest Cognac house, founded in 1765 by Irish émigré Richard Hennessy in the town of Cognac. Paradis blends rare eaux-de-vie aged up to 130 years, sourced primarily from the four highest-tier Cognac crus (Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Borderies, Fins Bois). The blend is overseen by Master Blender Renaud Fillioux de Gironde, the 8th generation of the Fillioux family who have served as Hennessy's blenders since 1800. The Liquid Collection stocks Hennessy Paradis Cognac at $1,398 SGD plus the prestige Lunar New Year Year Of zodiac collaborations: Tiger ($14,188), Rabbit X Yan Pei Ming ($13,988), Dragon X Yang Yong Liang ($13,888), CNY 2026 Year of Horse ($1,988), and the 12-bottle Zodiac Miniatures Set ($2,888).

What is L'Or de Jean Martell?

L'Or de Jean Martell is the flagship prestige Cognac of Martell — the oldest of the major Cognac houses, founded in 1715 by Jean Martell (a native of Jersey in the Channel Islands). The Cognac is named in honour of the founder, marking over 300 years of Martell heritage. L'Or de Jean Martell is celebrated for its distinctive presentation — a striking sculpted crystal decanter — and for an exceptional blend of eaux-de-vie from Martell's reserves. The Liquid Collection stocks L'Or de Jean Martell 70cl at $3,988 SGD, plus two limited Zodiac editions: Assemblage du Serpent ($14,888 — Year of the Snake) and Assemblage du Lapin ($13,888 — Year of the Rabbit).

What is Hennessy Richard?

Hennessy Richard is one of Hennessy's most prestigious expressions — named in honour of founder Richard Hennessy, who established the house in 1765. The Cognac is a blend of rare eaux-de-vie aged from 40 to 200 years, drawn from Hennessy's most precious reserves. The blend is created by the Fillioux family — Hennessy's master blenders for over 220 years, currently led by the 8th generation. Hennessy Richard is presented in a striking Baccarat crystal decanter with a hand-cut neck. The Liquid Collection stocks Hennessy Richard Cognac at $7,888 SGD — sitting in the prestige tier alongside Hennessy Paradis.

What are the four major Cognac houses?

The four major Cognac houses — often called "The Big Four" — collectively produce approximately 90% of all Cognac globally. Hennessy is the largest (founded 1765 by Irish émigré Richard Hennessy — owned by LVMH); Martell is the oldest (founded 1715 by Jean Martell — owned by Pernod Ricard); Rémy Martin (founded 1724 — the only major Cognac house still family-owned, by the Hériard-Dubreuil family, and the only house whose entire eaux-de-vie reserve is sourced from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne); and Courvoisier (founded 1809 — owned by Suntory Global Spirits since 2024). The Liquid Collection stocks across all four houses, with prestige Fine & Rare bottles from Hennessy (Paradis, Richard, Paradis zodiac), Martell (L'Or de Jean Martell, Single Cru Vintage), Rémy Martin (Louis XIII), and Courvoisier (21 Year Old).

What is Grande Champagne in Cognac?

Grande Champagne is the most prestigious of the six Cognac crus (sub-regions). It is the innermost cru, surrounding the town of Cognac itself in the Charente region of southwest France. Grande Champagne's distinctive chalky limestone-and-clay soils (which give it the "Champagne" name — from the same Latin root as the Champagne wine region, meaning "open chalky landscape") produce eaux-de-vie of exceptional finesse, floral complexity, and long ageing potential. Cognacs labelled "Fine Champagne" must contain at least 50% Grande Champagne. Rémy Martin is the only major Cognac house that sources its entire range exclusively from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne — and Louis XIII uses 100% Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie.

What's the difference between Cognac VS, VSOP, XO, and XXO?

Cognac age categories are defined by the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend. VS (Very Special) requires a minimum of 2 years; VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) requires 4 years; Napoleon requires 6 years; XO (Extra Old) requires 10 years (raised from 6 years in 2018); and XXO (Extra Extra Old) requires 14 years. Prestige bottlings sit well above these minimums — Hennessy Paradis blends eaux-de-vie aged up to 130 years; Louis XIII blends up to 1,200 eaux-de-vie aged 40 to 100 years; Hennessy Richard blends up to 200 years old. These prestige releases are not formally classified under the standard age categories because they exceed the system. The Liquid Collection stocks the full age spectrum from VS through XO to ultra-prestige.

Why do Cognac houses release Lunar New Year zodiac editions?

Lunar New Year (Chinese New Year) is the single most significant commercial occasion for prestige Cognac globally — Chinese consumers (in mainland China, Hong Kong, Taiwan, Singapore, and global Chinese communities) are the world's largest market for prestige Cognac, and zodiac-themed gifting drives extraordinary demand. The major Cognac houses (Hennessy, Martell, Rémy Martin) release annual Lunar New Year limited editions across their prestige tiers, often in collaboration with Chinese contemporary artists (Hennessy's recent Paradis collaborations with Yan Pei Ming, Yang Yong Liang; Martell's Zodiac series) or with bespoke packaging designs. The Liquid Collection stocks a deep range including Hennessy Paradis Year Of Tiger/Rabbit/Dragon/Horse, Martell Zodiac Edition Snake/Rabbit, and Louis XIII Year of the Horse 2026.

How should I store collectible Cognac?

Like whisky, Cognac does not continue to age in the bottle once sealed — the spirit's character is essentially fixed at bottling. Proper storage preserves the bottle's value and condition. Key principles: (1) Store upright — Cognac should NOT lie on its side as prolonged contact between the high-alcohol liquid and the cork can degrade the seal. (2) Keep away from direct sunlight and heat sources — UV light can fade labels and discolour the liquid. (3) Maintain stable temperature around 15–20°C — Singapore's tropical climate makes air-conditioned storage important. (4) Keep humidity moderate. (5) Preserve original presentation boxes, crystal decanters, and certificates — significant resale value attaches to complete packaging, particularly for Louis XIII Baccarat decanters, Hennessy Richard's hand-cut decanter, and zodiac edition packaging.

Do you deliver Fine & Rare Cognac across Singapore?

Yes — The Liquid Collection offers free delivery on all Fine & Rare Cognac orders across Singapore with no minimum purchase. Standard delivery is 3 working days. For ultra-prestige bottles (Rémy Martin Louis XIII Black Pearl, Hennessy Paradis Year Of editions, L'Or de Jean Martell Zodiac), we can arrange direct in-person handover with our team to ensure safe delivery of the original Baccarat crystal decanters and presentation packaging. WhatsApp +65 9680 5856 for personal consultation across the prestige range, including bottle authentication, presentation upgrades, Lunar New Year corporate gifting, and milestone purchases.