Camus Cognac will present the Camus 1940 Vintage Cognac, as well as its exclusive Elegance range at the IAADFS Duty Free Show of the Americas this month (Booth 522).
Camus 1940 Vintage Cognac
This Camus Rarissimes Cru Bons Bois vintage 1940 – presented in our unique Moodie Magnifier below – is one of the oldest vintages officially recognised in the Cognac AOC, according to the House of Camus.
The Cognac AOC places strict rules on vintage cognacs, including a requirement for the presence of a bailiff during the bottling process; as a result, very few fully certified vintage cognacs exist, making them even rarer.
The date of distillation was certified by the authorities in 1940. Seals were placed on the bung in the barrel, removing all possibility of fraudulent intervention and thereby guaranteeing the origin and authenticity of the Cognac. It has remained under legal surveillance for its life, up to the bottling carried out under the bailiff’s supervision. After verifying the Cognac’s traceability and confirming it with carbon-14 dating, French government authorities have agreed that it may be classed as a true vintage Cognac.
The rarity of the 1940 vintage is boosted by the unusual dominance of the Colombard grape, and its distillation in a tiny 400-litre alembic – said to be a very specific and uncommon size at the time.
It is also the first of the House’s Rarissimes vintages to be bottled in a Baccarat Crystal decanter and presented in a wooden casket with a golden metal closure – a symbol of the “˜Gates of Paradise’ which guard the entrance to the cellar housing the oldest cognacs of the Camus family.
This is a limited edition of just 280 Baccarat Crystal decanters.
Following two years of work enhancing the brand’s impact and recognition, the company has launched the Camus Elegance range of Cognacs.
At the TFWA World Exhibition in 2005, Camus XO Elegance was presented as the first product and packaging developed in line with the company’s new brand positioning. Also in the range was the VS and VSOP Elegance.
In both blend and packaging, the Cognacs from this range have been created to offer “superior value” to the consumer, although they retail at the regular Cognac category prices, the company said.
The packaging includes a new bottle and label; a heavy, screw-top closure; and a striking gift box for greater shelf impact.
Explaining the rationale behind the new range, Camus President Cyril Camus said: “Elegance defines our products, the refinement of our blends and the beauty of our packaging. It also defines the universe in which they are enjoyed, the people, the places and the moments. Elegance is essential in today’s world and it was therefore the obvious word to describe the changes I wanted to make.”
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Camus Extra Elegance is a multiple award-winning cognac issued from the marriage of eaux-de-vies at the very peak of their ageing from the Borderies, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne |
Camus VS Elegance is described as having “a style all of its own”, including an innovative screw-top closure and a blend suitable for those in search of a lighter and less tannic cognac.
Camus VSOP Elegance features a heavy screw cap, which also serves as a precise cocktail measure, and 3600 labelling. The gift box has striking graphics and colours for maximum on-shelf impact and strong brand recognition.
Camus XO Elegance is an Extra Old cognac in line with consumer demand for a richly-flavoured, yet lighter and mildly oaked blend. It displays a bouquet of floral aromas and a palate tinged with dried fruit, liquorice and spicy notes, culminating in a leathery finish. It is presented in a bottle with an engraved heavy metal stopper.
Camus Extra Elegance is a multiple award-winning Cognac issued from the marriage of eaux-de-vies from the Borderies, Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne. Extra Elegance received Best of the Luxury Category distinction (Platinum Award) in the first edition of Pentawards, the worldwide packaging design competition. The decanter, designed by C’neo Creative Design Director Florence Teyssedre, is supported by a pedestal within an innovative gift box that is square, but opens on the diagonal.
