Martell, the oldest of the grand Cognac Houses, is celebrating its 300th anniversary with an agenda of exceptional events, from a spectacular party at the Château de Versailles to local celebrations. This anniversary was also a perfect opportunity to pay tribute to Martell’s employees and winegrower partners, gathering more than 3 200 guests at the Château de Chanteloup, the birthplace of the House. A tribute to Cognac and the people of Cognac To celebrate its 300th anniversary, it was “This is a very special year for Martell, which essential for the Martell House to celebrate is celebrating three centuries of cognac-making its origins in Cognac, and in particular in the and close bonds with the people of Cognac. We Château de Chanteloup, which has been wanted to invite all the local partners with refurbished for the event. whom we have nurtured a truly remarkable Over 2,500 winegrowers, distillers and other partnership for nearly ten generations, and I partners from the Cognac region received sincerely hope that this special relationship will their invitations from Martell employees, who continue for many generations to come,” delivered them personally to mark their said César Giron, Chairman and CEO special relationship. For a month ahead of of Martell House.. the event, they criss-crossed the Charente countryside in Martell branded trucks to hand-deliver the invitations to partners. Spectacular staging for an experience rich in sense & history Guests were treated to a spectacular surprise at the start of the evening when two fighter jets roared across the Cognac sky, followed by three planes from the “Cartouche Doré”, a squadron of seasoned flight instructors from the French air force flight academy in Cognac. The squadron is considered the “little brother” of the famed Patrouille de France aerobatics team, which put on a demonstration for guests during the 20 May event in Versailles. Two Cap Ten aerobatic planes then wrote out the number “300” in white smoke before dropping three parachutists – carrying some flags marked with Martell colours – who joined the guests and presented César Giron & Alexandre Ricard with bottles of the limited edition cognac given to guests as a gift. This exceptional 40-minute airshow –a tribute to a shared history anchored in savoir-faire, excellence and passion – was crowned by a stunning fireworks display to set the stage for a grandiose evening in an amazing setting. An ode to Cognac culinary excellence An exceptional limited edition reserved to Martell partners In an enchanting decor reminding of Versailles, guests had the chance to enjoy Because the Tricentenaire of Martell is above all an cocktails created especially for Martell’s 300th opportunity to celebrate 300 years of craftsmanship anniversary by Thierry Hernandez (head and excellence, each guest received an exclusive barman at the famous Plaza Athenée). The limited edition cognac, a blend of fifteen eaux-de-vie 3,200 guests shared a custom-crafted culinary from the five main crus, spanning the last three “The blending of these 15 eaux-de- experience developed in collaboration with centuries. vie, which then completed their the Château de Chanteloup’s chefs Eric ageing in barrels made from 300- Danger and Pascal Nebout. The menu “While the complementary character and depth of year-old oak, spotlights our savoir- featured delectable gastronomical specialties these eaux-de-vie accentuate the elegance, complexity faire, our commitment, and our from the region with an emphasis on local and balance that define the organoleptic style of attachment to a House that has let seasonal products, as well as contemporary Martell, each tells its own story. One of the eaux-de- us continue a fabulous story that takes on recipes dating from 1715. vie, from 1802, the year Victor Hugo was born, is the began in 1715.”, notes Martell House’s oldest. Another came from the Gallienne Cellar Master Benoît Fil After being warmly thanked for their distillery, and another from Lignères. Some trace their contribution to Martell, they danced late into source to historic estates owned by the founding the night. The concert was punctuated by the family whose descendants, André and René Firino unexpected arrival of French singer- Martell, guided the House as it flourished throughout songwriter Louis Bertignac (a founding the 20th century. Yet another is from an estate that member of the group Telephone), a friend of belonged to François Chapeau, the famous cellar the House who couldn’t resist a chance to master who formalized Martell’s unique distillation play several of his hits. method.”. In collaboration with Thierry Hernandez, head barman of Martell has promoted and embodied unique French Art de In 1936, Paul Firino-Martell, the mayor of Cognac, the Plaza Athenee in Paris, Martell has created three Vivre since the founding of the House in 1715. The donated a château to the French Air Force to be used as the exciting new cocktails specifically for the 300th anniversary culinary revolution instigated by Louis XIV at the seat of a charitable foundation. Shortly thereafter he celebrations. The three cocktails pay tribute to Martell’s Château de Versailles at the time was the springboard that initiated the construction of an air base in Cognac, donating emblematic founders. The Adventurer, which honours Jean propelled France’s reputation for exquisite gastronomical land near the village of Châteaubernard, establishing the Martell, combines Martell Noblige with peach cream, talent and creativity far beyond the country’s borders. The foundations of two pioneers of French expertise and black grape juice and champagne*. The Audacious, a Martell House chefs Eric Danger and Pascal Nebout have excellence, the Martell House and what became a showpiece tribute to Rachel Lallemand Martell, contains Martell reinterpreted a culinary score inspired by this “grande of French Air Force’s prowess. VS cognac, blackberry liqueur, lime juice, and cuisine” that at the same time showcases the best products champagne*. And The Independent, an homage to their from the Charentais terroir: hot & cold farm hen with French Air Force training base 709 in Cognac is home to son Frederic Martell, features Martell VSOP Cognac summer truffles, foie gras flamed with pepper alcohol, beef the Air Force pilot academy (EPPA), and is where future mixed with Lillet white wine, red fruit juice, cedar extract shoulder braised for seven hours, and chicken cooked with fighter and transport pilots learn to fly. and champagne*. hay. The pilots of the Cartouche Doré aerobatics team are all *Perrier Jouët Grand Brut or Mumm Cordon Rouge. instructors at this French Air Force academy. They fly in trios at the controls of the TB30 Epsilon aircraft, demonstrating the skills of fighter pilots with panache, brilliantly combining exacting professionalism and technical performance. Martell’s heritage dates back to the beginning of the 18th César Giron holds a Master degree from the EM LYON century. Established in 1715 by Jean Martell, a native of business school. He joined the Group in 1987 as a sales Jersey, Martell is the oldest of the grand Cognac houses. For representative for Pernod before moving to the planning and three centuries Martell has produced, exported and budget department of SEGM (now Pernod Ricard marketed cognacs whose quality is renowned around the Europe). He was appointed Managing Director of Galibert world. & Varon in 1991, then Sales Director of Pracsa (Pernod The unique identity of Martell is inspired by three Ricard España) in 1993, before moving to Singapore as uncompromising factors: elegance, complexity and balance. Managing Director of Perising. In 1996, he returned to Founded at the very end of the “Grand Siècle” (as the reign Europe as Sales Director at Renault Bisquit, and in 1999 of Louis XIV is known), Martell was part of a uniquely he was named Managing Director of Perisem (Pernod epicurean age during which art de vivre and refined Ricard Swiss). In 2003, he became CEO of Wyborowa. gastronomy flourished, accompanied by the emergence of César Giron has served as Chairman and CEO of Pernod skilled oenology and craftsmanship. These three realms SA since 1 July 2009, before being named Chairman and became the pillars of Maison Martell and remain at the CEO of Martell Mumm Perrier Jouët (MMPJ) 1 July heart of the House’s vision three centuries later. 2015. martell.com facebook.com/martell youtube.com/martell instagram.com/martellcognac #Martell300 Martell House Martell House +33 (0)1 53 23 26 60 +33 (0)1 53 23 41 86 +33 (0)7 85 95 93 04 [email protected] [email protected] .