Visiting Courvoisier in Cognac, France, immerses you in the legacy of one of the “Big Four” Cognac houses, founded in 1809 by Emmanuel Courvoisier and now housed in a sleek, modern facility at 2 Place du Château in Jarnac, just 10 kilometers from Cognac town. Tours, available year-round (with potential winter closures, so check ahead), range from the 1-hour Heritage Tour (€15), featuring tastings of VS and VSOP amid the distillery’s copper stills and barrel rooms, to the 2-hour Master Blender Experience (€100), where you craft a personal blend from eaux-de-vie sourced from Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, and Borderies crus. Housed near the Charente River, the site blends history—Napoleon reportedly favored Courvoisier—with innovation, showcasing their signature “toasting” process that enhances flavors like vanilla and spice. Reservations are a must, easily made via courvoisier.com or by calling, especially in summer when slots fill fast. Whether sipping an XO or exploring the sleek visitor center, a trip to Courvoisier offers a polished taste of Cognac’s past and present.
