

Selling sophistication: the artistic legacy of early cognac advertising
Early cognac posters fused artistic mastery with commercial intent, using visual elegance to mirror the drink’s high status and affirm it as a symbol of refinement.
6 days ago
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Blown away: the true story of Claude Boucher, the man behind the bottle
The idea that wines and spirits are shipped, marketed, and sold to us in bottles seems obvious with hindsight. But it wasn’t always the case.
Apr 30
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Liquid gold, or why archives should matter to drinks companies
Building on insights from my attendance of the BAC/BACS 2024 annual conference, let’s explore how archives can create value for drinks companies.
Nov 22, 2024
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How a tiny insect changed the fortunes of the world’s most longed-for spirit
In this article we will look into how a deadly louse from America has almost killed cognac and reshaped the world of spirits.
Jul 1, 2024
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Hors d'âge: is armagnac really France’s oldest brandy?
It is a common belief that distilling industry was in place in Armagnac way earlier than in Cognac. But is this actually so?
May 14, 2024
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Enlightened drinking: distilled spirits in eighteenth-century Paris
Although early French brandy trade is usually associated with foreign demand, eighteenth-century Parisians also regularly consumed spirits.
Apr 11, 2024
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Dutch merchants, sweet wine, and the beginnings of the cognac industry
The Dutch played a key role in the emergence of cognac. But how did this occur? What was it exactly that they did? When? And why the Dutch?
Jan 7, 2024
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