Napoleon Brandy | A Guide to Napoleon Cognac

Napoleon Cognac Knowledge Guide

Napoleon is a Cognac classification within the BNIC grading system, falling between VSOP and XO. The youngest eau-de-vie must be aged for at least 6 years (new regulation in 2018), though brands typically blend eaux-de-vie aged for 10–15 years. It's worth noting that "Napoleon" has two meanings in the Cognac world: one is the official BNIC classification; the other is a brand name (e.g., Courvoisier Napoleon, Martell Napoleon, and other series products).

Historical Origin of the Napoleon Classification

The name "Napoleon" comes from the 19th-century French emperor, Napoleon Bonaparte. In 1811, a comet passed by, and the grape harvest that year was exceptionally good, known as the "Comet Vintage." Emperor Napoleon was particularly fond of the grape spirits from that year, so the Cognac industry named its mid-to-high-end aged spirits "Napoleon" in his memory. Courvoisier, having supplied relatives of Emperor Napoleon before World War II, was dubbed "the Cognac of Napoleon."

Napoleon vs VSOP vs XO

Grade Minimum Legal Age of Youngest Eau-de-vie Actual Average Aging Market Positioning
VSOP ≥ 4 years 7–12 years Regular Mid-range
Napoleon ≥ 6 years 10–15 years Mid-to-High-end
XO ≥ 10 years 15–30 years Premium Regular

Comparison of Major Brands' Napoleon Series

Brand Status Notable Versions
Courvoisier Napoleon Still in production Full range: VS, VSOP, Napoleon, XO Imperial
Martell Napoleon Discontinued 80s–90s Cordon Bleu Napoleon, Grand Napoleon
Rémy Martin Napoleon Discontinued 80s Hong Kong edition with red cap and black label Napoleon
Hennessy Napoleon Few historical versions Transitional product, discontinued for many years
Camus Napoleon Still in production Golden Flower Napoleon, Borderies Napoleon

Collection Logic for Discontinued Napoleon Brands

The Napoleon series from Martell and Rémy Martin have been discontinued for many years, with diminishing quantities available in the market. Collectors seek out these "out-of-print" items. Complete bottles with original red paper boxes, English-only back labels, and liquid levels reaching the shoulder are seeing steadily rising resale prices. While Courvoisier Napoleon is still in production, the 70s–80s golden label old editions are also valuable.

Napoleon Collection Advice

  • Martell/Rémy Martin Napoleon – Focus on old editions: Due to discontinuation, old editions are rare and out-of-print, with stable rising resale value.
  • Courvoisier Napoleon Imperial XO: As the flagship of "the Cognac of Napoleon," old golden label Napoleon and Imperial XO consistently have stable collector demand.
  • Collect entire batches of 1980s Hong Kong editions: Napoleon series sold in the Hong Kong market back then (red paper box, English-only back label, metal cap) fetch better premiums when collected as a batch.
  • Slight liquid loss in bottles is common: Many Napoleon bottles are old spirits from the 80s–90s, and slight liquid loss (within half a centimeter) is normal aging. Negotiate prices based on the extent of loss (usually a deduction of 8–15%).

Have Napoleon to Sell?

First, check which brand your Napoleon belongs to:

  • Martell Napoleon → Refer to the Martell Napoleon subpage
  • Rémy Martin Napoleon → Refer to the 1980s Spirits - Rémy Martin Napoleon subpage
  • Courvoisier Napoleon → Refer to the Napoleon Courvoisier series page

Multiple brands of old Napoleon spirits can be appraised together for a batch, often yielding a better premium.

Have spirits to sell? Send a photo to WhatsApp 46135667, or add us on WeChat at C8X882. Our appraisers usually provide an initial quote within 15 to 30 minutes.

Compare Actual Resale Prices of Various Brands

After reading the knowledge guide, you can refer to the actual resale prices and differences in old editions for various brands of the same grade below.

Related Buyback Series

Reference for buyback of similar categories and grades, convenient for comparing market prices or processing together.

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Common FAQs

1. What does the Napoleon cognac grade mean?
Napoleon is a grade in the BNIC cognac classification, ranking between VSOP and XO. The youngest eau-de-vie must be aged for a minimum of 6 years (new regulation in 2018). It is also a brand name (e.g., Courvoisier Napoleon).

2. Is Martell Napoleon still in production?
The Martell Napoleon series has been out of production for many years and can only be found on the secondary market. Cordon Bleu Napoleon, Extra Napoleon, etc., are rare, discontinued items.

3. What is the most collectible version of Courvoisier Napoleon?
Courvoisier Gold Medal Napoleon and Imperial XO from the 1970s–80s are highly sought after; the modern L'Esprit Lalique crystal edition is a top-tier limited edition.

4. Do you buy entire collections of Napoleon old wines?
Yes. Entire collections of multi-brand Napoleon (Martell, Rémy Martin, Courvoisier, Camus, etc.) can be appraised at once, with a bulk premium 8–15% higher than individual bottle purchases.

5. Is a Napoleon bottle with 1 cm of liquid loss still valuable?
Slight liquid loss (within half a centimeter) is normal aging for 1980s old wines, deducting about 8–12% of the value. A 1 cm loss deducts 20–25%. More severe losses require considering it for consumption.

Chunxiang Trading Company offers high prices for buybacks:

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