In 1152 Henry II married Eleanor of Aquitaine thus commencing 300 years of English rule in the region and, with the odd interruption of a war or two, a trading tradition that holds true to this day.

Salt was an established industry in the region by the 13th century, which brought Dutch shippers, who, as a result discovered the wines of the Borderies and Champagne. These wines, however, proved unstable on long journeys and the Dutch soon began distilling them to create brandewijn (burnt wine), whence the name brandy. It was not long before the Dutch decided to affect distillation in Cognac as this was more cost effective and in time produced better brandy.

The brandy was then transported in oak barrels, sometimes as ship’s ballast, and it soon became apparent that the brandy improved in contact with the oak. By the 19th century the cognac industry had evolved into three distinct sectors: growers, distillers and traders.

The traders became famous with the invention of the bottle, as they were able to convey their name to markets hitherto accustomed to anonymous barrels. Subsequently, these traders put age statements on their labels, then once defined, sub-regions, and as a result, the big brands are now well and truly entrenched. Read more