HOUSE OF DELAMAIN MARKS 200 YEARS OF EXCELLENCE WITH RELEASE OF
L’EDITION RARE DU BICENTENAIRE
A HISTORIC COGNAC BLEND FEATURED IN A 10-LITRE DAME JEANNE
CRAFTED BY MAISON D’ART GOOSSENS
AND TO BE AUCTIONED BY BONHAMS IN FROM NOVEMBER 19TH TO DECEMBER 6TH
Jarnac, France — As part of its bicentennial celebrations, the House of Delamain proudly presents L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire, a blend of and for the centuries, composed of just five rare extra-old cognacs exclusively from the prestigious Grande Champagne terroir. Presented in an iconic 10-litre dame-jeanne beautified by the Parisian Maison d’Art Goossens, famed for its artistic goldsmithing, this release embodies 200 years of accumulated savoir-faire and Delamain’s impassioned curiosity as to the natural world.
HONOURING TWO CENTURIES OF EXPLORATION AND CRAFTSMANSHIP
Founded in 1824, the House of Delamain this year celebrates a 200-year journey immersed in the art of crafting exceptional Grande Champagne cognacs. This bicentenary celebration is an opportunity to reflect on the Delamain family’s enduring commitment to purity and excellence.
Over generations, in turn ornithologist, entomologist, botanist, archaeologist and historian, the Delamain family’s passion for both nature and intellectual curiosity has deeply shaped the House’s identity. Crafting cognac with only Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, the only “premier cru de Cognac” and producing only XO and above, while ageing the eaux-de-vie in seasoned French oak and using “faibles” to reduce the spirit’s strength, the Delamain family has consistently made fundamental choices in the art of XO craftsmanship. Their artisanal and non-interventionist approach has been essential in revealing the natural gifts of the special terroir and creating transcendent cognacs.
The House's Managing Director, Eric Le Bouar, states: “Now as then, Nature, Time, and People are at the heart of everything we do, and the most exquisite cognacs lie ahead.”
AN HISTORIC BLEND INCORPORATING THE SAVOIR-FAIRE OF FIVE GENERATIONS
A historically significant release, L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire stands at the pinnacle of the Delamain family’s legacy. Blending five eaux-de-vie, each carefully nurtured by the last five generations of the Delamain family. Each eau-de-vie was preserved for many decades in dames-jeannes and transferred at its peak maturity to lock its unique aromatic expression in time. As the House’s liquid memory, these dame-jeannes bear witness to Delamain’s history.
The combined expertise of Delamain’s two most recent Cellar Masters: Dominique Touteau (Cellar Master from 1992 until this year’s handover) and Charles Braastad (9th generation of the Delamain family who took up the reins of Cellar Master in March 2024) was key to balancing these extra-old eaux-de-vie, which have achieved such an advanced stage of maturity. Their combined efforts were able to tame the spirits’ feisty personalities and compose an extremely harmonious cognac telling a tale of 200 years. Despite its advanced age, this legendary blend reveals a surprisingly fresh and fruity tasting profile, drawing admiration with its remarkable depth, vibrant aromas, and captivating elegance.
CRAFTSMANSHIP BY MAISON GOOSSENS: A MASTERPIECE INSPIRED BY NATURE
Delamain entrusted the renowned Maison Goossens, one of the 12 Maisons d’art reunited by Chanel, with creating a majestic design for this historic blend. Known for their creativity and goldsmithing expertise, Goossens artisans have hand-crafted an intricate decoration featuring vineyard birds and organic motifs on the 10-litre dame-jeanne. The 245 individually sculpted pieces underwent a seven-stage process, including bronze casting, gold plating, and delicate soldering, culminating in a true masterpiece that resonates with Delamain’s passion for nature.
EXCLUSIVE AUCTION BY BONHAMS: A CELEBRATION OF HERITAGE
The pinnacle of Delamain’s bicentenary celebration will be marked by an exclusive auction in partnership with Bonhams, a renowned international auction house. From November 19th to December 6th, the dame-jeanne of L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire will be auctioned online. The winning collector will receive a 70 cl bottle of L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire and an invitation to an immersive two-day experience for 4 guests at Delamain’s cellars in Jarnac.
“This is not just a cognac; it is a museum piece and a unique time capsule” said Amayès Aouli, Global Head of Wine & Spirits at Bonhams.
200 LIMITED-EDITION BOTTLES FOR CONNOISSEURS
In addition to the exclusive dame-jeanne, 200 individually numbered bottles of L’Edition Rare du Bicentenaire will be released in December 2024. The limited-edition bottles echo the dame-jeanne’s iconic design with delicate engravings, hand-painted details, and a unique number. Each bottle is nested in an oak wood giftbox embellished with a medal crafted by Goossens to mark this historical celebration.
Click here to reach Bonhams Online auction.