To celebrate 150th anniversary as an independent, family-owned company, Camus has unveiled its Cuvee 5.150 Cognac. Camus is the world’s largest independent producer of cognac with sales in 2012 reaching $198 million. It is also the youngest of the established multi-national producers, and the fifth largest producer of the refined distilled wine product, because the first four are all owned by conglomerates. To commemorate this special occasion, Camus is taking its latest offering on a world tour.
The Camus Cuvee 5.150 Anniversary Cognac
Although Camus didn’t enter the U.S. market until 2010 (its largest markets are in Asia and Eastern Europe), the company’s first stop was exactly in the U.S. President of the Cognac house, Cyril Camus hosted a private dinner for 30 guests at the SCM Culinary Suite in SoHo, New York. The restaurant is run by celebrity chef, Scott Conant, and the man himself prepared a sumptuous meal that, naturally, had a strong Camus Cognac theme running from the first aperitif – the 150 Special cocktail (recipe below) right through to after dinner coffee.
Camus Cuvee 5.150 has been designed as a celebration of the dedication of the five generations of hard work that’s gone into bringing Camus to where it is today. And so the number ‘5’ features strongly in the creation of the Cognac. Five rare eaux-de-vie from five different Cognac growing regions (Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fin Bois, Bon Bois and Borderies Cognacs) have been blended to produce this spicy, fragrant mix, which is presented in a delightfully irregular Baccarat Crystal decanter. This Camus Cognac is being sold at $13,500.
Cyril, who is the fifth generation of the family to run the business said it was a bold move by his great-great-grandfather at the time to build his own company rather than be a grower of grapes for the established cognac producers, as others were. He said it’s this same spirit that keeps the business family owned and independent.
“It was a courageous act,” he said. “We are the youngest company and we’re growing throughout the world. Today we are finally here in New York.”
The Camus Cuvee 5.150 Anniversary Cognac has been produced in a limited edition of 1,492 decanters, each individually numbered. The first 150 decanters will include an individually numbered 100ml “ultimate sample,” which contains the last sample taken by the cellar master just before the decanters were filled in the presence of a bailiff. Such samples are usually reserved for the Camus family cognac library.
The Camus 150 year anniversary celebrations will now move onto other destinations around the world.
Camus Cognac 150 Year Special Coctail
- 1 oz Camus VSOP Elegance
- 1/3 oz. cane sugar syrup
- Three drops of Violet Liqueur
- 3 oz. Champagne Brut
- 1 Maraschino Cherry
Camus Cuvee 5.150 Anniversary Cognac Box & Glasses
