A short history of Maison Martell
Martell is one of the most popular, but also the oldest cognac company in the world.
In 1715, the young merchant Jean Martell left the Jersey Island (English Channel) and settled in Cognac (France), where he founded one of the first cognac-producing houses in the world.
Jean dies in 1753, and his widow, Rachel Martell, remains in charge of the Martell House, vowing to carry on her husband’s inheritance without compromise:
“I want only the best, without artifice.”
In 1783, with the recognition of the independence of the United States of America, 87 units of Martell eaux-de-vie arrived on American soil.
During the Napoleonic Wars, more precisely in 1808, King George III signed an exceptional Martell import license to England, thus defying the embargo imposed by Napoleon Bonaparte.
The year 1831 is a remarkable achievement for the Maison Martell, Frederic, one of Jean’s great-grandchildren using for the first time the mention “Very Superior Old Pale” (VSOP).
Throughout history, Martell brandy has been served in many notable moments such as:
- 1911 — coronation of King George V of Great Britain
- 1918 — signing of the armistice concluding the First World War
