🥃 Martell XO
Martell Extra Old Cognac: more than 150 spirits aged 15 to 35 years, with a focus on Grande Champagne, 40% ABV; barrels of Tronçais oak.
Martell XO is an Extra Old category Cognac from the Martell house, 40% ABV. According to Difford's Guide, the blend is made of more than 150 Cognac spirits aged roughly 15 to 35 years, with a focus on the Grande Champagne cru. There is no age statement on the label; according to the same source, Martell developed the Extra Old blend in 1819.
Martell distils only clear wines without lees from Ugni Blanc grapes and makes its barrels from Tronçais oak. Before bottling the blend rests in vats for about four months, longer than VS or Cordon Bleu. The bottle has a distinctive half-moon shape, introduced in 2005.
Why this matters to you. XO is the oldest age designation: the youngest spirit in the blend has spent at least ten years in oak. Compare it with Cordon Bleu, where half the blend comes from Borderies, and with the younger VSOP. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | Extra Old blend developed in 1819 (according to Difford's Guide) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | protected designation “Cognac” (Reg. (EU) 2019/787) |
| Raw material | clear wines from Ugni Blanc; emphasis on Grande Champagne |
| Distillation method | twice in copper pot stills; only clear wines without lees |
| Cask type | French oak (Tronçais) |
| Minimum maturation | XO: youngest spirit at least 10 years; spirits in the blend 15–35 years |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Martell XO → 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 Cordon Bleu, 🥃 Martell VS, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Martell Cordon Bleu, 🥃 Martell VS, 🥃 Martell VSOP, 🥃 Hors d'âge cognac
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Martell XO contains only very old spirits?
The spirits in the blend are roughly 15 to 35 years old according to Difford's Guide, while by regulation the youngest spirit in an XO must be at least 10 years old.
Which cru is the basis of Martell XO?
The emphasis is on Grande Champagne, according to Difford's Guide.
How long does the blend rest before bottling?
About four months; for VS about a month, for Cordon Bleu about three.
What to read next
- 🥃 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.
- 🍷 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 Cordon Bleu · 🥃 Martell VS · 🥃 Martell VSOP · 🥃 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 XO Cognac (40 % ABV; eaux-de-vie aged 15–35 years; 150+ eaux-de-vie; Grande Champagne emphasis; Extra Old blend 1819)
- 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)