On a September evening in Chelsea, LOUIS XIII gathered a small group of guests at a private event space for the New York unveiling of its newest expression and its first release since 2023. The guest of honor was Cellar Master Baptiste Loiseau, who walked attendees through the BLACK PEARL: TRIBUTE TO THE BIRTHPLACE OF LOUIS XIII, a new, highly limited-edition expression within the House’s BLACK PEARL collection, inspired by Le Grollet, the historic cellar where LOUIS XIII originated.
Notable guests in attendance included Nikki Hilton Rothschild, Ezra Williams, Jessica Wang, Jeff Hamilton and Chanel Iman.
A Tasting Ritual Built Around 13°C
Each decanter is housed in a bespoke cooling cellar that holds the liquid at 13°C (55.4°F), the temperature of the House’s historic cellars. At the New York event, guests tasted the cognac at that precise temperature, while being guided by Master Distiller Baptiste Loiseau. The House describes a velvety embrace of beeswax, honey, precious wood, and patchouli. As it warms, the profile opens and releases warm spices, nutmeg, apricot, delicate floral and notes of dark chocolate.
The Liquid and the Decanter
At the heart of the blend is an extraordinary eau-de-vie that Loiseau selected from the House’s historic collection. It carries an aromatic signature first identified by his predecessor, Pierrette Trichet. To deepen the link to the cellar, the selected eau-de-vie was combined with a single hand-selected tierçon from Le Grollet.
Rarity and Access
BLACK PEARL is limited to 398 decanters worldwide, with a suggested retail price of $28,000. Bottles are available through the House’s network of private client directors. For more information or to inquire about a decanter, visit louisxiii-cognac.com.
