Coutanseaux

A brand you've never heard of

Coutanseaux Ainé

Established in 1767 during the reign of Louis VX, Coutanseaux Ainé stands as a renowned Cognac house with a rich heritage. It once held the esteemed position as the flagship of Maison Rouyet Guillet and served as the official supplier to the Royal Court of Sweden. Throughout three centuries of Cognac history, Coutanseaux has garnered immense admiration from connoisseurs while remaining relatively unknown to the general public.

However, recent years have witnessed a resurgence of interest in Coutanseaux, thanks to the discovery of a bottle from their 1767 vintage in a private cellar, which subsequently fetched a remarkable sum at auction. The prestigious Wellesley Hotel in Knightsbridge, London secured the coveted bottle with a winning bid of $164,000. This extraordinary brandy, a testament to centuries of European history, attained the highest recorded price ever paid for a bottle of Cognac.

Today, Coutanseaux exclusively offers exceptional Cognacs from the Grande Champagne - including an Hors d'age Cognac rated 91 points by Serge from Whiskyfun.

The History of Coutanseaux Aîné

1767

Coutanseaux Ainé dates back to 1767

Founded by Louis Coutanseaux, originally a passionate cooper, he built a strong reputation before passing on his craft to his son, Joachim.

Cognac production starts

Joachim Coutanseaux started producing Cognac after taking over the cooperage, introducing the world to the first Coutanseaux Aîné Cognacs.

1800

Royal Recognition

Coutanseaux is recognized as the official supplier to the Swedish royal court.

1865

1916

Taittinger and Guillet: Heritage and Passion

Pierre Taittinger married Gabrielle Guillet from the well-known Rouyer family of Cognac. By 1801, the Rouyer family had moved to Saintes and expanded their business over the years. Pierre himself was actively involved in the Champagne business.

Rouyer Guillet took over

Coutanseaux Aîné ranks as the third largest Cognac maison, and it was acquired by the House of Rouyer Guillet. After 1900, little by little, they took over almost all the companies in Saintes.

1919

1940

Coutanseaux Aîné's Forgotten Era

During the Second World War in 1940, Coutanseaux Aîné largely fell into oblivion, with its legacy and prominence being overshadowed and forgotten.

The Revival of Coutanseaux Aîné

In 2015, the heirs of Pierre Taittinger, the Frerejean Taittinger family, breathed new life into a long-dormant legacy by unveiling their cuvée Hors d'âge. Drawing from a profound lineage, this bottle encapsulates a blend of remarkable eaux-de-vie reserves, aging between 40 and 100 years, all hailing from the top-tier region of the Cognac appellation: La Grande Champagne. Hence, the tagline "Coutanseaux Aîné: Creating Emotions Since 1767" came into existence.

2015

1767

Coutanseaux Ainé dates back to 1767

Founded by Louis Coutanseaux, originally a passionate cooper, he built a strong reputation before passing on his craft to his son, Joachim.

1800

Cognac production starts

Joachim Coutanseaux started producing Cognac after taking over the cooperage, introducing the world to the first Coutanseaux Aîné Cognacs.

1865

Royal Recognition

Coutanseaux is recognized as the official supplier to the Swedish royal court.

1916

Taittinger and Guillet: Heritage and Passion

1919

Rouyer Guillet took over

Coutanseaux Aîné ranks as the third largest Cognac maison, and it was acquired by the House of Rouyer Guillet. After 1900, little by little, they took over almost all the companies in Saintes.

1940

Coutanseaux Aîné's Forgotten Era

During the Second World War in 1940, Coutanseaux Aîné largely fell into oblivion, with its legacy and prominence being overshadowed and forgotten.

Coutanseaux Ainé Hors d'Age Grande Champagne Cognac

$ 726

excl. TAX excl. shipping

Review by Serge Valentin (Whiskyfun) :

"This one’s a Grande Champagne. It’s difficult to find some information about the house Coutanseaux, but it seems that’s it got a super-high reputation and what’s more, I’ve seen that the Wellesley Hotel in London was pouring a 1767 Coutanseaux for around £9,000 a measure. Too bad it’s not a 1776, our American friends would have loved it. Colour: amber. Nose: epic and sublime. Walnuts, honeydew, cigar tobacco, fresh pollen, dried figs, dates, orange blossom, bergamots, maraschino, natural marzipan, genuine gingerbread (like containing 50% honey or more)... A truly amazing nose, this should be old and contain quite some ‘pardise’ cognac. Mouth: in keeping with the nose, with dates and figs, raisins, honey cake, pecans, a tobacco-like rancio, old oloroso, more walnuts... It’s all becoming drier, towards bone-dry Madeira, which is the kind of development I just cherish. Finish: medium and dry, on more oloroso, tobacco, bitter chocolate... While some lighter touches of marmalade are lifting the aftertaste. And raisins! Comments: this one’s quite extraordinary, I have to say. To think that I had never heard of Coutanseaux before..."

Cognac age Hors d'Age, including eaux-de-vie from 1916

Growth area Grande Champagne

Bottle size 700ml

ABV 40%

Bottle presentation is subject to change.

Coutanseaux Ainé Hors d'Age Grande Champagne Cognac

Coutanseaux Aine XXO Cognac

$ 421

excl. TAX excl. shipping

Cognac age XXO

Growth area Grande Champagne

Bottle size 700ml

ABV 40%

Discover the depth and brilliance of the Coutanseaux Aîné XXO Cognac, a masterpiece crafted from years of tradition and innovation. With a heritage aging process of a minimum of 25 years, every drop embodies the pinnacle of the maison's dedication to excellence. The intricately carved designs enveloping the glass bottle echo the unique lines found on barrels, providing a visual representation of its origin and journey. Just as with its XO counterpart, the wooden cork serves as a heartfelt nod to the raw materials of the barrels and the ever-present vines that birth this remarkable spirit. A gold ring, reminiscent of the barrel hoops, graces the bottle, uniting the elements of its creation. At the bottle's base, the signature water drop shape serves as a constant reminder of both the grape's form and the pure, distilled droplets of cognac. Complementing the overall aesthetic, the thick, chiseled glass neck bestows an added dimension of elegance.

Coutanseaux Aine XO Cognac

$ 210

excl. TAX excl. shipping

Cognac age XO

Growth area Grande Champagne

Bottle size 700ml

ABV 40%

Dive into the rich legacy of Coutanseaux Aîné with their XO Cognac, a testament to craftsmanship and heritage. Meticulously aged for a minimum of 15 years, each sip encapsulates decades of expertise and passion. The bottle's slender design distinguishes it from common cognac containers, while the use of smooth glass imparts an unmistakable touch of elegance. The wooden cork not only speaks to the barrels' raw material but also evokes the vines from which this exquisite drink originates. Gracefully encircling the bottle, the golden ring subtly mirrors the barrel arches, grounding the design in its Cognac roots.