Otard
Encyclopedia
Otard, also known as Chateau de Cognac, is a French
cognac
house founded in 1795 by Jean-Baptiste Antoine Otard. The company, still in the hands of the same family, figures in the List of oldest companies produced by Japanese survey firm Tokyo Shoko Research in 2009. The firm is based in the Château des Valois (Château de Cognac), Cognac
, Charente
, its home since 1796.
of 1688.
James O'Tard fought alongside Louis IV of France
and was created a Baron
in 1701. It was his great-grandson, Jean-Baptiste Antoine Otard born near to the town of Cognac, who created the cognac trading house bearing his name in 1795. The family owned vineyards around the town of Cognac and were already distilling and ageing 'eaux-de-vie'. The following year he bought the Château de Cognac, built in the tenth century to protect the villagers from Norman invaders, as a base for his business. The cellars of the château, which can be visited, are still used for storing and ageing the casks of cognac.
1795 Extra – a top of the range cognac essentially crafted from Grande Champagne
eaux-de-vie in a special cellar set apart in the Château.
XO Gold - draws its personality from a blend of Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, rounded off with the Borderies, which lend it the finesse of a delicately floral aroma, and by the Fins Bois
, which give it its vigour.
55 - the first cognac at 55° offered by a cognac firm, it is the offspring of blends made over two hundred years ago by Baron Otard.
Napoleon - is a subtle blend of Grande and Petite Champagne with Borderies and Fins Bois.
VSOP - is composed exclusively of the two leading cognac growths, Grande and Petite Champagne
, with at least 50% of Grande Champagne.
VS – is a blend of the finest growths aged in Limousin
oak barrels.
France
The French Republic , The French Republic , The French Republic , (commonly known as France , is a unitary semi-presidential republic in Western Europe with several overseas territories and islands located on other continents and in the Indian, Pacific, and Atlantic oceans. Metropolitan France...
cognac
Cognac (drink)
Cognac , named after the town of Cognac in France, is a variety of brandy. It is produced in the wine-growing region surrounding the town from which it takes its name, in the French Departements of Charente and Charente-Maritime....
house founded in 1795 by Jean-Baptiste Antoine Otard. The company, still in the hands of the same family, figures in the List of oldest companies produced by Japanese survey firm Tokyo Shoko Research in 2009. The firm is based in the Château des Valois (Château de Cognac), Cognac
Cognac
Cognac is a commune in the Charente department in southwestern France. It is a sub-prefecture of the department.-Geography:Cognac is situated on the river Charente between the towns of Angoulême and Saintes. The majority of the town has been built on the river's left bank, with the smaller right...
, Charente
Charente
Charente is a department in southwestern France, in the Poitou-Charentes region, named after the Charente River, the most important river in the department, and also the river beside which the department's two largest towns, Angoulême and Cognac, are sited.-History:Charente is one of the original...
, its home since 1796.
Family History
The Otard family traces its origins back to the middle of the 9th century to a Norwegian warrior named Ottar. From the 11th to 17th century, the descendants of Ottar lived in Dun-Ottar castle in Scotland. Great supporters of the Stuart cause, they followed King James II of England when the later moved to France in exile after the Glorious RevolutionGlorious Revolution
The Glorious Revolution, also called the Revolution of 1688, is the overthrow of King James II of England by a union of English Parliamentarians with the Dutch stadtholder William III of Orange-Nassau...
of 1688.
James O'Tard fought alongside Louis IV of France
Louis IV of France
Louis IV , called d'Outremer or Transmarinus , reigned as King of Western Francia from 936 to 954...
and was created a Baron
Baron
Baron is a title of nobility. The word baron comes from Old French baron, itself from Old High German and Latin baro meaning " man, warrior"; it merged with cognate Old English beorn meaning "nobleman"...
in 1701. It was his great-grandson, Jean-Baptiste Antoine Otard born near to the town of Cognac, who created the cognac trading house bearing his name in 1795. The family owned vineyards around the town of Cognac and were already distilling and ageing 'eaux-de-vie'. The following year he bought the Château de Cognac, built in the tenth century to protect the villagers from Norman invaders, as a base for his business. The cellars of the château, which can be visited, are still used for storing and ageing the casks of cognac.
Products
The cellars of Château de Cognac have 3-metre thick walls and an extremely high level of humidity resulting from the proximity of the Charente river. This environment plays a determinant role in the maturity of the different brandies offered by the company.1795 Extra – a top of the range cognac essentially crafted from Grande Champagne
Grande Champagne
Grande Champagne is a French district, called a cru, known for its cognac. It produces the finest cognacs in a zone of 34703 hectares, of which 17% is dedicated to production of cognac. At its heart is the town of Segonzac, in the Département of Charente. Grande Champagne is situated entirely in...
eaux-de-vie in a special cellar set apart in the Château.
XO Gold - draws its personality from a blend of Grande Champagne eaux-de-vie, rounded off with the Borderies, which lend it the finesse of a delicately floral aroma, and by the Fins Bois
Fins Bois
A wine producing sub-region within the Cognac appellation, geographically surrounding the sub-regions of Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne and Borderies, and which falls within both the Charente and Charente-Maritime departments in South-West France, just north of Bordeaux.Fins Bois is regarded as...
, which give it its vigour.
55 - the first cognac at 55° offered by a cognac firm, it is the offspring of blends made over two hundred years ago by Baron Otard.
Napoleon - is a subtle blend of Grande and Petite Champagne with Borderies and Fins Bois.
VSOP - is composed exclusively of the two leading cognac growths, Grande and Petite Champagne
Petite Champagne
Petite Champagne is a geographic zone of Cognac production of approximately 66,000 hectares, of which about 15,000 are dedicated to wines destined for cognac. It is situated in the départements of Charente and Charente-Maritime. The principal towns of the region are Barbezieux , Archaic and Jonzac...
, with at least 50% of Grande Champagne.
VS – is a blend of the finest growths aged in Limousin
Limousin (région)
Limousin is one of the 27 regions of France. It is composed of three départements: Corrèze, Creuse and the Haute-Vienne.Situated largely in the Massif Central, as of January 1st 2008, the Limousin comprised 740,743 inhabitants on nearly 17 000 km2, making it the second least populated region of...
oak barrels.