Philosophy

The House of Monnet’s physical origins lie in the 19th century, but our spiritual origins reach deep into the heart of the Renaissance. An age of cultural and intellectual rebirth, the Renaissance illuminated Europe with a flowering of the arts, the sciences, and of the human spirit. Inspired by classical antiquity, the great minds of the period turned their focus to humanity, placing new emphasis on human potential and championing independent thought, creativity and innovation. It should come as no surprise that our emblem, the salamander, was once the personal symbol of the great Renaissance monarch François I.

At Monnet, our values—liberty, generosity, bravery—are intimately intertwined with those of the Renaissance. We celebrate uniqueness. We embrace self-love. We like to indulge. Our beliefs inspire all that we do, beginning with our craft. For too long, cognac has been seen as formal, perhaps a bit stiff. And yet, nothing could be further from the truth! Cognac is a fascinating spirit with a glorious history and boundless potential to surprise and delight. It is a festive drink, a liberating ritual, a spirit full of warmth and life. That is why, with curiosity as our catalyst and pleasure as our muse, we pour our hearts and souls into producing a cognac of renewal, revelation, and yes, renaissance.

At its most essential, cognac is the product of sun, soil, water and grape juice: the ultimate natural drink. At Monnet, we believe that cognac is at its best when at its most artisanal. That is why we only source from the finest vineyards, why we insist on small-batch distillation by craftsmen we trust, and why we go easy on the wood: to let all the vibrant beauty of the fruit shine through. When imagination and a true thirst for discovery come together, the result is always sensational. Precise, with no artifice.

Our House was founded with one purpose in mind: to offer authentic, generous, high-quality cognacs. Nearly 180 years later, we still hold tight to this ideal, as is evident to all who taste the fruits of our labour. Distillation begins with a meticulous selection of quality wines cultivated in the clayey, chalky soils of four different crus of Cognac: Grande Champagne, Petite Champagne, Fins Bois and Bons Bois. The wines are then double distilled in small batches using traditional copper stills. Harvest and grape variety permitting, our cellar master distills on the lees, obtaining a smooth, round fruitiness with a slightly buttery flavour.