Courvoisier: A Story of History, Prestige, & The Legend of Napoleon’s Cognac

The story of Courvoisier Cognac began in the early 19th century, when Emmanuel Courvoisier and his associate, Louis Gallois, owned a wine and spirit company in the Parisian suburb of Bercy. In 1811, their warehouses in Bercy were visited by none other than Napoleon Bonaparte himself. According to legend, Napoleon was so impressed by the quality of their cognac that he took several barrels with him to St Helena, where it became a favorite of English officers aboard the ship. It was these officers who named it “The Cognac of Napoleon.”

Following the death of Emmanuel Courvoisier, his son Felix Courvoisier established the Courvoisier business in Jarnac in partnership with Jules Gallois in 1843. After Felix passed away in 1866, his nephews and associates, the Curlier brothers, took over the management of the business. In 1869, Courvoisier was granted the title of “Official Supplier to the Imperial Court” by Napoleon III, cementing its reputation as a prestigious and high-quality cognac.

The English Simon family took over the Courvoisier business in 1909 and set out to build the brand identity. They established the iconic Napoleon silhouette as the symbol of the brand and introduced the Josephine bottle in 1950. Courvoisier has continued to innovate and expand, and since 2005, it has been a leading brand of Beam Suntory, one of the largest spirits companies in the world.

Today, Courvoisier continues to produce some of the world’s finest cognacs, carefully crafted from the best eaux-de-vie from the Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne regions. Their master blenders carefully age and blend these eaux-de-vie to create a range of cognacs that offer a complex and nuanced experience. From their VS to their XO and beyond, Courvoisier cognacs are a true testament to the history, prestige, and craft of this legendary cognac house.