LOUIS XIII has added a new chapter to its Black Pearl collection, and this one looks inward to the cellar that shaped the House’s identity.
Black Pearl Tribute to the Birthplace of LOUIS XIII is a 398-decanter release inspired by Le Grollet, the historic cellar tied to the earliest story of LOUIS XIII Cognac.
It’s also the first LOUIS XIII expression to arrive with a temperature-driven tasting ritual, designed to echo the cool, humid atmosphere in which the Cellar Master encounters the blend.
At a glance
- LOUIS XIII has unveiled Black Pearl Tribute to the Birthplace of LOUIS XIII, limited to 398 decanters worldwide.
- The edition is inspired by Le Grollet and presented with a bespoke Cooling Cellar for a temperature-led tasting ritual.
- In the UK, it will be available through selected luxury venues and exclusively at the LOUIS XIII Boutique at Harrods for £21,000.
Le Grollet becomes the centre of the Black Pearl story
Le Grollet is more than a historic room in the LOUIS XIII universe.
For the House’s Cellar Masters, it is a place where humidity, coolness and half-light influence the way eaux-de-vie reveal themselves.
Baptiste Loiseau, Cellar Master at LOUIS XIII, selected a rare eau-de-vie from the House’s historic demijohns for this edition.
The eau-de-vie was identified as carrying the distinctive imprint of Le Grollet, a connection passed to Loiseau by his predecessor, Pierrette Trichet.
Loiseau then brought that eau-de-vie into a single tierçon from the cellar, creating a blend intended to express the atmosphere and sensory depth of the place itself.
It is a more introspective idea of rarity than simply age or scarcity.
Here, the release is built around memory, environment and the continuity of cellar craft across generations.
A decanter shaped by darkness and reflection
The Black Pearl collection has long been associated with a darker, more mysterious reading of the LOUIS XIII decanter.
For this edition, the familiar silhouette has been reimagined with midnight-blue reflections that nod to the depth and shadow of Le Grollet.
Only 398 decanters will be produced worldwide, keeping the release firmly in the realm of serious collectors and private connoisseurs.
The visual language is restrained rather than loud, with the blue-black treatment giving the decanter a cellar-like character that suits the liquid’s story.
It’s the kind of object that will appeal to collectors who care about provenance and ritual as much as presentation.
The first LOUIS XIII temperature-led ritual
The most distinctive element of this release is not only the blend, but how LOUIS XIII wants it to be tasted.
Each decanter is presented in a bespoke Cooling Cellar, allowing the cognac to rest below ambient temperature and down to a minimum of 13°C.
At that cooler point, the House describes the profile as dense and velvety, with impressions of beeswax, honey, precious wood and patchouli.
As the cognac gradually returns to ambient temperature, the aromatic register shifts toward warm spices, deeper rancio, nutmeg and traces of chocolate.
The ritual is designed to bring the cellar experience into the glass, moving from stillness to radiance as the temperature rises.
That makes the release unusually experiential for LOUIS XIII, and potentially compelling for drinkers who want a more deliberate ceremony around tasting.
Details & Specifications
| Brand | LOUIS XIII |
|---|---|
| Edition | Black Pearl Tribute to the Birthplace of LOUIS XIII |
| Collection | Black Pearl |
| Inspiration | Le Grollet, the historic cellar associated with the beginnings of LOUIS XIII |
| Cellar Master | Baptiste Loiseau |
| Production | 398 decanters worldwide |
| Presentation | Reimagined LOUIS XIII decanter with midnight-blue reflections and bespoke Cooling Cellar |
| Tasting ritual | Temperature-driven service from a cool resting state toward ambient temperature |
| Minimum serving environment | 13°C in the Cooling Cellar |
| UK experiences | The Dorchester, The St. Regis, Grantley Hall and A. Wong |
| UK retail availability | Exclusively at the LOUIS XIII Boutique at Harrods |
| UK price | £21,000 |
In the UK, the tasting ritual will be offered at a curated group of luxury on-trade venues, including The Dorchester, The St. Regis, Grantley Hall and A. Wong.
For retail clients, the edition will be available exclusively at the LOUIS XIII Boutique at Harrods, priced at £21,000.
For collectors, Black Pearl Tribute to the Birthplace of LOUIS XIII is a rare decanter with a clear sense of place.
For drinkers, its appeal lies in the choreography of temperature, patience and aroma, which turns a pour of cognac into something closer to entering the cellar itself.
