The novel mentions Napoleon cognac — a drink that in 1993 counted in Russia as a symbol of prestige and prosperity. It is an unofficial age designation for cognac, indicating a high-quality product comparable to the XO (Extra Old) category.
Origin of the name
The name «Napoleon» for cognac has a romantic historical backstory tied to the French emperor. Legend holds that when Napoleon Bonaparte left France on his way to Saint Helena, he took cases of Courvoisier cognac with him. The emperor’s escort took to calling that cognac «Napoleon’s cognac.» Two centuries later, cognac lovers the world over are still enjoying the noble drink.
What Napoleon cognac means
Napoleon cognac means that the youngest eau-de-vie in the blend must have spent at least ten years in oak. It is an unofficial but widely recognized mark of quality. By way of comparison: ordinary cognac need only be aged for a minimum of two years.
Production of Napoleon cognac follows the traditional methods: double distillation in a Charentais pot still and aging exclusively in French oak barrels. Contact with the wood and its tannins gives the cognac its characteristic color and aroma. Over time the sharpness of the alcohol disappears and the cognac becomes softer.
Flavor profile
Napoleon cognac is marked above all by fruit notes and elegance. A younger cognac in this category is sharper, with floral notes, while a more mature one becomes softer, with woody aromas. It is traditionally drunk as a digestif after a meal.
The French houses producing Napoleon cognac
Courvoisier
One of the oldest cognac houses, founded in 1809. It is this brand that carries the Napoleon legend. Courvoisier Napoleon is the company’s flagship product, a blend of eaux-de-vie aged between ten and twenty-five years. The house is renowned for its elegant, balanced cognacs with fruit notes.
Hennessy
The largest cognac producer in the world, founded by the Irishman Richard Hennessy in 1765. Hennessy Napoleon is distinguished by a rich flavor with notes of vanilla, spice and dried fruit. The company is known for innovative approaches to blending and strict quality control at every stage of production.
Martell
The oldest of the great cognac houses, founded in 1715 by the Englishman Jean Martell. Martell Napoleon stands out for a particular softness and refinement, achieved through the use of eaux-de-vie from the best crus of the Cognac region. Its characteristic feature is a predominance of floral and fruit aromas.
Rémy Martin
A cognac house founded in 1724, specializing exclusively in cognacs made from grapes of the Grande and Petite Champagne crus. Rémy Martin Napoleon Club is a prestige cognac aged up to twenty years, distinguished by a particular depth of flavor with notes of honey, candied fruit and spice.
Napoleon cognac in the Russia of the 1990s
In the period described in the novel, Napoleon cognac was a symbol of the Western way of life and of material well-being. Its appearance on the table announced the status of the host and the importance of the occasion. French cognacs of this category cost serious money and were not within everyone’s reach, which made them all the more desirable in the era of economic upheaval of the early 1990s.