Thirteen might be a lucky number after all. Beginning this April, on the 13th of every month, a few fortunate guests will be able to experience one of the world’s finest spirits in one of the world’s finest hotels. The Four Seasons Hotel New York has partnered with Louis XIII Cognac to create the Louis XIII Experience, an exclusive package available only to those who reserve the hotel’s Royal Suite or its exquisite Ty Warner Penthouse (the most expensive one-bedroom penthouse in North America at US$50,000 a night) on this special day.
The evening begins in your luxurious suite, where you’ll be joined by Philippe Vasilescu, Louis XIII’s New York Ambassador. He will discuss the renowned Cognac’s history – it goes all the way back to 1874 – and guide you through the highlights of the spirit’s multifaceted and complex taste. Louis XIII Cognac, produced by Rémy Martin, is created from grapes from Grande Champagne, in the heart of France’s Cognac region. Each decanter of Louis XIII takes four generations of cellar masters more than 100 years to craft.
The cognac is served with grand ceremony, using a long, white-gold pipette to extract the liquid from the iconic crystal decanter and release it into specially designed Louis XIII crystal glasses. As you sip, you will also sample canapés, featuring such delicacies as Wagyu beef tartar, caviar, and truffles, which have been designed by Four Seasons New York executive chef John Johnson to complement and enhance Louis XIII’s flavour profile.
You’ll then enjoy a specially curated four-course dinner inspired by the flavours of the Cognac, with thoughtful dishes like wild black sea bass with Cognac lobster broth and foie gras lobster ravioli and tea-smoked and roasted Crescent Farms duck steak with Shinsu apples and Cognac-cured foie gras brûlée. The meal ends with dessert, and a final glass of Louis XIII for you to savour.
But the experience doesn’t end there. You will receive a matching set of crystal glasses, provided by Rémy Martin, to take home, as well as an exclusive invitation from cellar master Baptiste Loiseau for a tour of the Rémy Martin Estate and Louis XIII cellars on your next visit to France.
