Ushering in the Year of the Tiger with a toast to age-old traditions

Celebrating longevity with a glass of LOUIS XIII is very fitting, since cellar master Baptiste Loiseau (right) continues the legacy that was started by Paul-Émile Rémy Martin in 1874. This long history, as documented in a 19th century notebook (top left), has contributed to a finely honed craftsmanship that is evident in the top quality of the cognac as well as the iconic LOUIS XIII flasks (bottom left). supplied

On February 1, millions of people around the world will usher in the Year of the Tiger. Rooted in over 4,000 years of history, the Lunar New Year is the most important holiday of the year for people of Chinese, East Asian and Southeast Asian descent. 

It is typically a period of reuniting with family and friends to exchange gifts, celebrate fresh beginnings and observe customs that are rich in symbolism and meaning passed along over generations. 

Infusing century-old rich cultural traditions with aspirations for the future has also been a winning recipe for LOUIS XIII, a cognac that is renowned for connecting us to our past by invoking fond memories. 

A sensory experience unlocking the past

Time and again, Baptiste Loiseau, cellar master at LOUIS XIII, has witnessed the power of LOUIS XIII to inspire reflections on personal experiences. “For me, it evokes my mother’s kitchen and sharing simple culinary delights,” he says. “A big copper pot where juicy figs are made into jam.” And smelling notes of dried rose petals conjures up the image of a sweetly scented rose bush like the one in front of his grandparents' house, says Mr. Loiseau.

Yet with a cognac that is “dense and light at the same time,” it can be hard to pinpoint the exact taste or smell that triggers a memory. It may be the “honeyed notes of fig and walnut or the rich notes of cigar box and leather that give way to the vivid freshness of passion fruit, spiked with ginger, thyme or myrrh,” he says. “With each drop of LOUIS XIII, opulence vies with vivacity in a tension full of paradox and excitement that makes every tasting a special occasion.”

And magic happens when “an exceptional cognac that frees our memories is shared,“ suggests Mr. Loiseau. “I am always touched when others recall memories, often with deep emotions. It’s sharing the moment that matters most, and letting the words and feelings flow.”

Celebrating tradition and longevity

As the seventh cellar master at LOUIS XIII, Mr. Loiseau follows in the footsteps of generations of cellar masters before him to continue the distinctive signature that started in 1874, when LOUIS XIII was first created by Paul-Émile Rémy Martin.

Each generation has to forge a strong personal connection to this heritage in order to be able to pass it along, says Mr. Loiseau. He credits Pierrette Trichet, the cellar master he succeeded, with inspiring “a profound knowledge of all the precious eaux-de-vie we hold in our cellars to recreate this complexity. It’s a mixture of science, of course, but also intuition.”

It begins with the recognition that the excellence of LOUIS XIII starts in its terroir, which offers a unique convergence of soil, climate and human skill. With its open lands of limestone subsoil, the Grande Champagne terroir covers 13,000 hectares. That’s where 100 per cent of the grapes creating the eaux-de-vie for LOUIS XIII are grown. 

“I was born and raised in the Grande Champagne terroir. It’s beautifully picturesque, with hills and valleys, low stone walls and rows of vines,” says Mr. Loiseau, who adds that the growing conditions, combined with the skills of the local winegrowers and distillers, give eaux-de-vie distilled from Grande Champagne grapes their renowned aging potential. 

Continuing a powerful legacy

From this connection to the land and its traditions comes the strong desire to look ahead to ensure a continuing legacy for coming generations. “We look to the future while honouring the past, sampling the new eaux-de-vie produced by Grande Champagne winegrowers and distillers each year, and setting aside only those with the very best aging potential,” he says. “Only decades later will these be considered by the next cellar master to compose the LOUIS XIII blend of tomorrow.”

With this incredible time span, cellar masters know they will not see the fruit of their own work. “They are a vital link in a human chain, working to transmit the legacy that ensures the tradition lives on,” says Mr. Loiseau. “I think a century ahead when I set aside our finest eaux-de-vie as a legacy to my successors for the coming century.”

A toast to the future

This commitment to the longevity of traditions – and celebrating the best that communities and cultures have to offer – is also an important theme for the Lunar New Year festivities. They bring family and friends together to share memories from the past as well as aspirations for the future. 

What better way to toast fresh beginnings than with a cognac that is the result of decades of aging and blending and that draws on both science and art to achieve perfection, believes Mr. Loiseau, who joins his colleagues in offering best wishes for the Year of the Tiger.

Looking for the ultimate Lunar New Year gift?
Get inspired by visiting www.louisxiii-cognac.com and learning about LOUIS XIII cognac, which is available in a number of sized formats – including 6, 3 and 1.5 litres and 700 and 50 millilitres – and rare special editions.

To view this report on The Globe's website, visit globeandmail.com

To view the full report as it appeared in The Globe's print edition: Chinese New Year