🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu
Martell flagship Cognac at XO level, created in 1912; more than 100 spirits aged 10 to 25 years, about half from Borderies; 40% ABV.
Martell Cordon Bleu is the flagship of the Martell Cognac house, created in 1912 by Édouard Martell and first presented at the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco. According to Difford's Guide, it is an XO-level Cognac at 40% ABV with no age statement on the label; the source calls it the oldest XO currently in production.
The blend is made of more than a hundred Cognac spirits aged from 10 to 25 years. Its distinctive feature is that about half comes from the Borderies cru, whereas most XOs are built on Grande Champagne. Martell distils only clear wines without lees, and its barrels are made from Tronçais oak. Before bottling the blend rests in vats for about three months. The bottle design remains close to the original from 1912.
Why this matters to you. By the age of its spirits, Cordon Bleu corresponds to XO, but its make-up differs from Martell XO: it has more Borderies. Compare it with VSOP and XO from the same range. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | 1912, Édouard Martell (Cognac) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | protected designation “Cognac” (Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| Raw material | clear wines from Ugni Blanc; about half the spirits from Borderies |
| Distillation method | twice in copper pot stills; only clear wines without lees |
| Cask type | French oak (Tronçais) |
| Minimum maturation | spirits 10–25 years (Difford's Guide); no age statement on the label |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu → kind of → 🍇 Grape brandies → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Packed in
- 🍷 Oak barrel, 🐝 French oak
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Martell, 🥃 Cognac, 🍇 Grape brandies
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Martell VS, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Martell XO, 🥃 Martell VS, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Martell XO, 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Cordon Bleu is not an XO?
According to Difford's Guide, it is XO in quality and spirit age, but within the Martell range it is listed separately from Martell XO.
When was Cordon Bleu created?
In 1912 by Édouard Martell; it was first served at the Hôtel de Paris in Monaco.
How does Cordon Bleu differ from a typical XO?
About half the blend is spirits from the Borderies cru, while most XOs are based on Grande Champagne.
What to read next
- 🥃 Martell VS — Martell's base Cognac in the VS category, 40% ABV; a blend of 20 to 30 eaux-de-vie, mostly from Fins Bois, aged a little over two years.
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🍷 Oak barrel — A wooden barrel of oak staves in which wine matures and breathes.
- 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac — An age mark for cognac: the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend has been aged in oak for at least 10 years, the same as for XO.
Similar
🥃 Martell VS · 🥃 Martell VSOP · 🥃 Martell XO · 🥃 Grand Marnier Grande Cuvée Quintessence · 🥃 Macieira Five Star · 🥃 Christian Brothers Apple
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Martell Cordon Bleu (40 % ABV; 100+ eaux-de-vie aged 10–25 years; about half Borderies; created 1912, Hôtel de Paris, Monaco)
- Difford's Guide: Martell Cognac Production (Ugni Blanc, clear wine, Tronçais oak, resting in vats: 1 month VS, 3 months Cordon Bleu, 4 months XO)
- Difford's Guide: Cognac Summarised (age designations, double distillation in copper pot stills, oak)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Art. 2 and Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)