Napoleon era Cognac sells for over £200,000

A Napoleon era Cognac from 1805 has sold for over £200,000 at Hedonism Wines in Mayfair, making it one of the most expensive bottles of Cognac ever sold in the UK.

The bottle in question is a three-quarter gallon imperial of 1805 Cognac Massougnes and its sales price of over £200,000 makes it one of the highest value single Cognac sales in history.

The bottle was acquired by Hermitage Cognacs 20 years ago from Marie-Antoinette des Allées, Comtesse de la Bourdelière – a direct descendant of King Louis VII, whose family owns the former Cognac producing estate.

The imperial was snapped up at wine lover’s delight, Hedonism in Mayfair, by an undisclosed buyer.

In 2016 a bottle of 1801 Cognac Massougnes acquired by Hermitage Cognacs was sold to an anonymous Asian buyer at Hedonism Wines for £220,000.

“In over 30 years of buying and selling Cognac, this 1805 is one of the oldest and rarest I have ever come across.

“Massougnes produced famous pre-phylloxera Cognacs and we have dated their records back to at least 1730, making them the oldest known growers and sellers of brandies,” said Hermitage’s managing director, David Baker.

“At its peak the property covered 346 hectares, and Marie-Antoinette, the last remaining descendant of this famous family, has written a charming note about the ‘life’ of this extraordinary Cognac, which was created the same year as the Battle of Trafalgar,” he added.

Founded in 1987, Hermitage Cognacs specialises in the sale of old and rare Grande Champagne Cognacs from old family houses.