A Royal Decree in a Snifter: Sipping Time and Temptation with Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal.

Let’s not pretend this is just another bottle resting on your bar cart. The Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal is not merely a cognac - it’s a flirtation with history, a kiss of oak-aged ambition, and a reminder that even the French monarchy knew when to break its own rules.

Picture it: 18th-century France, where powdered wigs jostle for attention at court and laws strictly forbid vineyard expansion.

Enter one Monsieur Rémy Martin - a grape-growing dreamer with ambitions far larger than his land. His eaux-de-vie had already made an impression, and in 1738, King Louis XV, never one to ignore excellence in liquid form, granted Martin the Accord Royal - a royal dispensation to plant new vines, despite the standing prohibition. This wasn’t just a nod from the throne; it was an audacious leap forward for the future of French cognac.

The 1738 Accord Royal pays homage to this royal favour, not by mimicking the past, but by distilling its spirit - pun fully intended. First introduced in 1997, this expression sits confidently between Rémy’s VSOP and XO offerings. It’s the kind of middle child that gets all the attention: refined, composed, and just cheeky enough to turn heads without spilling a drop.

When your cognac’s got more royal backing than your last five life decisions - sip like a scandal’s about to break.

Crafted entirely from the Grande and Petite Champagne crus - Cognac’s most esteemed terroirs - it’s a blend of over 240 eaux-de-vie aged between 4 and 20 years, with an average maturity of around 12. These are not brash spirits. They’re wise, worldly, and wrapped in toasted Limousin oak - imparting not just flavor, but character. Think of it as a roundtable of nobles, each with their own story to tell.

When you raise the glass, the first thing that greets you isn’t fire - it’s warmth. Aromas of fig and plum glide in with buttery vanilla and toasted brioche. Let it sit, and you’ll catch hints of butterscotch, coffee, and perhaps a trace of old leather - like the inside of a treasured book or a diplomat’s briefcase. On the palate, it’s creamy and rich. Dried fruits mingle with toffee and roasted nuts. There's a quiet undercurrent of spice - nutmeg, cinnamon, maybe a whisper of clove. It’s complex, yet smooth. Assertive, yet well-mannered. The finish? Long and satisfying, like the final word in a perfectly timed retort.

This is the cognac for whisky lovers looking to stray, Armagnac devotees curious to refine, or even negroni stalwarts ready to retire their Campari for the night. The 1738 doesn’t shout luxury; it raises a single eyebrow and smirks. It’s as comfortable in a crystal tumbler as it is in a Sidecar cocktail - where its depth and structure lend elegance to every citrus-kissed sip.

And let’s not overlook that - yes, you can mix this. A classic Rémy Sidecar, with 1738 Accord Royal, Cointreau, and a splash of lemon juice, conjures the golden age of Parisian soirées. One sip and you might imagine yourself at the Ritz, plotting poetry or scandal (or both) in a well-cut suit.

In a world cluttered with limited editions, flashy bottles, and dubious celebrity spirits, the Rémy Martin 1738 Accord Royal stands out by not trying too hard. It’s for those who see style in understatement and taste in tradition done right. A quiet storm in a glass. A whisper from the past with impeccable tailoring.

So go ahead - raise a glass not to nostalgia, but to the enduring power of knowing exactly what you’re drinking... and why. Because this isn’t just cognac. This is what happens when a king bets on a dreamer - and centuries later, you get to drink the reward.

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Words by AW,

Photo courtesy of Rémy Martin.