Rémy Martin Cognac Fine Champagne V.S.O.P. IMPERIAL QUART 40% alc by vol 114cl ‘Old release from the 1980s’ with OC

Rémy Martin Cognac Fine Champagne V.S.O.P. IMPERIAL QUART – Old release from the 1980s

1. Introduction and Producer

The Rémy Martin Fine Champagne V.S.O.P. IMPERIAL QUART is a rare bottling from the 1980s, which is now regarded as a highly sought-after collector’s item amongst collectors and cognac enthusiasts.

The House of Rémy Martin looks back on a history spanning over 300 years. It was founded in1724 in the town of Cognac, from which it takes its name, and remains to this day one of the four great cognac houses (‘quatre grandes maisons’). The company has been managed by the Rémy Cointreau Group since 1990 and is the only major house to produce exclusively Fine Champagne cognacs – a distinction that requires a blend from the two most prestigious growing areas in the Cognac region, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne,.

The designation ‘V.S.O.P.’ (Very Superior Old Pale) was popularised by Rémy Martin in 1927 and has since established itself as a benchmark of quality in the world of cognac.

2. The product: Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. IMPERIAL QUART (1980s)

2.1 Designation and bottling

This bottling comes in an ‘Imperial Quart’ bottle size – a historical measure from the British imperial system, equivalent to1.136 litres (113–114 cl). The ‘quart’ originally referred to a quarter of a gallon; in the imperial system, this corresponds to approximately 1.136 litres.

According to consistent sources, the bottle was bottledexclusively for the duty-free trade. This explains both the unusual capacity and the great rarity of this bottling today, as travel retail editions were usually produced in more limited runs than regular retail bottles.

2.2 Technical Specifications

2.3 Bottle and label design

The bottles from the 1980s display design features typical of that era:

• A matt green (‘frosted green’) bottle with a cork stopper and a gold foil seal

• Gold-coloured label (‘金標’ – Gold Label)

• Inscription: ‘Rémy Martin Depuis 1724’ and ‘Fine Champagne Cognac’

• Metal seal (in good condition on surviving examples)

The bottles were packaged in a cardboard box (Presentation Box), which often shows signs of wear on examples that still exist today.

3. Sensory description

As this is a bottling that isnow over 40 years old , the sensory characteristics depend on the condition of the bottle in question. Generally speaking, however, Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. Fine Champagne from this era can be characterised as follows :

3.1 Appearance

The colour is describedas deep amberfor similar bottlings – a sign of the long maturation period in Limousin oak casks and the additional bottle ageing over decades.

3.2 Nose

The bouquet of these old-release bottlings is complex and multi-layered. Descriptions include:

• cocoa powder, caramel, maple syrup

• cedar, dried herbs, fruit jam

• Once warmed, notes of dried figs, citrus fruits and dark chocolate emerge

Also characteristic of the VSOP category as a whole are floral notes of jasmine and iris, underpinned by ripe autumn fruits, cinnamon, freshly ground hazelnuts and a woody tobacco note.

3.3 Palate and finish

Rémy Martin V.S.O.P. is generally describedas balanced, complex and with notes of vanilla, stone fruit and liquorice. Its exceptional smoothness is a hallmark of the house’s Fine Champagne cognacs.

Important note: For bottles from the 1980s , the flavour may vary from bottle to bottle due to prolonged ageing . Older bottles may contain sediment, and there may be a cork taint, oxidation or other age-related defects.

4. Collectors’ value and market situation

4.1 Rarity

The Imperial Quart bottling from the 1980s is now extremely rare and is described as a ‘rare, collectible bottling’. As this is a duty-free-only edition, it was never sold in large quantities through regular retail channels.

4.2 Price Indications (Historical Auction Results)

Prices vary considerably depending on condition, fill level, label quality and whether the original packaging is present.

4.3 Special notes for collectors

• Corks age: the semi-porous cork becomes brittle over decades and may shatter when opened

• Liquid level is a key indicator of quality – ‘Upper Shoulder’ is considered acceptable

• Metal seals are intact on well-preserved bottles

• Noguarantee can be givenregarding the drinkability of bottles this old

5. Distinctive features of the 1980s bottling

The 1980s marked a transitional phase in Rémy Martin’s packaging design:

• 1970s: White/yellow label, metal screw cap

• 1980s: Matt green bottle, cork stopper with gold foil

• From around 2000: Comprehensive restyling of the bottle

The designation ‘Fine Champagne’ was highlightedin larger type on the label in the 1980s , which visually distinguishes this bottling from later VSOP versions.

6. Conclusion

The Rémy Martin Fine Champagne V.S.O.P. IMPERIAL QUART from the 1980s is a fascinating testament to cognac culture and a highly sought-after collector’s item. It owes its exclusivity to the limited edition bottling for the duty-free market in a volume of 1.136 litres, which is unusual today.

For collectors, this bottle offers a unique opportunity to own an original V.S.O.P. from the pre-millennium era – with a label design and bottle shape that are no longer produced today. However , the drinking quality varies from bottle to bottle and depends largely on the condition in which it has been stored.

Anyone acquiring a bottle of this rarity should be aware ofthe special care required when handling the delicate cork and, ideally, use a specialised tool (the ‘Ah So’ corkscrew). The bottle is not just a drink, but a piece of cognac history – a legacy from the heyday of the travel retail trade in the 1980s.