Martell

The story of Martell began in 1715, when the young Jean Martell, just 21 years old, left his native island of Jersey and moved to the French town of Cognac to establish his own House Maison Martell. He took advantage of the growing demand of the British aristocracy for local eaux-de-vie (pure grape brandies) and, with a passion for perfection, laid the foundations of what is now the oldest of the great Cognac Houses.

After Jean’s death in 1753, his wife Rachel Martell took over management of the House, becoming one of the first women in history to run a major Cognac company. Under her leadership, Maison Martell flourished, and her motto “The best, without artifice” became the enduring philosophy of the brand.

Martell began exporting its cognac across the world. First to England and Northern Europe, later to India (1781), North America (1783), South America (1817), Africa (1848) and Asia (1858). This global expansion made Martell a symbol of French luxury that continues to this day.

At the turn of the 19th and 20th centuries, several legendary expressions were created: Martell VS, VSOP, XO and the iconic Cordon Bleu (1912), which became a symbol of elegance and travel. It was served aboard the Queen Mary, the legendary Orient Express and even the Concorde. Martell has been part of key historical moments such as the signing of the First World War Armistice and the wedding of Grace Kelly and Prince Rainier of Monaco.

Interestingly, the rarest eaux-de-vie, some dating back to 1830, are still stored in a secret cellar belonging to Jean Martell, carefully preserved as the brand’s liquid heritage. These precious cognacs are used to craft Extra Cognacs such as Martell Cohiba, created especially for lovers of Cuban cigars.

Today, Maison Martell is part of the Pernod Ricard group and continues to blend tradition with innovation. The brand has introduced groundbreaking creations such as Martell Blue Swift, the first cognac finished in bourbon casks, the Chanteloup XXO from the XXO cognac category, and the luxurious L’Or de Jean Martell, representing the pinnacle of French craftsmanship.

Martell is more than just cognac , it is a symbol of French savoir-faire (know-how), elegance, and heritage that has endured for over three centuries.