The spectacular and unique LOUIS XIII RARE CASK 42,6 is named after the 42,6% alcohol content; this connoisseur’s choice expresses notes of date, gingerbread, ginger and tobacco leaf. There will never be more than 738 decanters worldwide from one unique tierçon and each is engraved with an individual number. Every exquisite LOUIS XIII RARE CASK 42,6 is made out of precious black Baccarat crystal – RARE CASK’S signature, created by 20 expert craftsmen, who have to execute the most challenging colour to which the art of crystal can aspire. A rose gold decor dresses the neck of the decanter, crowned by a black crystal stopper.

The unique LOUIS XIII RARE CASK 42,6 will be exclusively available at Harrods and Hedonism Wines from June onwards for RRP £20,000. It will be available by the glass in great establishments such as The Arts Club, Claridges and at the Dorchester Bar.

Fifty distinguished guests gathered at the historic Dartmouth House in Mayfair to witness a new page in LOUIS XIII history being written. Attendees watched the breath-taking moment when the first LOUIS XIII RARE CASK 42,6 in the UK was revealed during a thrilling auction. 

Only 738 decanters worldwide were created from this unique tierçon, meaning the evening gave guests one of the few opportunities to take home a decanter of RARE CASK 42,6. The auction was a special treat for all guests not only because of the very limited availability of the RARE CASK 42,6. LOUIS XIII also generously decided that all auction proceeds will be donated to the charity “Chain of Hope”, which provides children suffering from life-threating heart diseases with the corrective surgery and treatment. Other lots at the auction included a LOUIS XIII Magnum, as well as a miniature LOUIS XIII decanter, a highly prized collector’s item due to it being no longer in production.

It was no surprise that the auction, held by charismatic Lord Jeffrey Archer, was a thrilling and unique experience and the RARE CASK 42,6 was finally auctioned off for an astonishing £50,000. Much to the delight of Anne-Laure Pressat, LOUIS XIII Brand Ambassador, who said after the auction “We are honoured that so many important friends of LOUIS XIII and Chain of Hope were here to share this unique and special moment with us. Thanks to our guests, our expectations to support Chain of Hope were exceeded greatly.”

The total auction proceeds amounted to £62,500, which will all be donated to Chain of Hope. Emma Scanlan, Executive Director at Chain of Hope, commented “We’re over the moon that LOUIS XIII managed to raise such a high amount of money during one evening, which will allow us to save the lives of 12 children.”

Not only did this wonderful evening raise money for a good cause, it also allowed all honoured guests to be transported into the luxurious world of LOUIS XIII, commencing with a tutored LOUIS XIII tasting by Mr Vincent J. Géré, Director of Rémy Martin Estates & Oenology. Mr Géré raised a glass to the successive four cellar masters in history, whose talents with the help of mother nature brought the spectacular RARE CASK 42,6 to light. He reminded the guests that “there would be no RARE CASK without the extraordinary sensibilities of a LOUIS XIII cellar

master. The RARE CASK 42,6 is truly the jewel in the crown of the LOUIS XIII legend that each cellar master has worked to create.”

Chain of Hope 

Chain of Hope exists to provide children suffering from life-threatening heart diseases with the corrective surgery and treatment to which they do not have access. The charity has been helping provide this treatment since 1995 and provides care in two distinct ways:

1. Bringing children to the UK and Europe for open and closed heart operations

2. Mobilising volunteer medical teams into developing countries to treat children, whilst stimulating the development of cardiac services for local populations

Chain of Hope provides teaching and training programmes while developing local infrastructure in countries such as Mozambique, Egypt, Jamaica, Ethiopia and Uganda. The long term aim of Chain of Hope is to establish locally sustainable cardiac services in countries where the facilities do not exist.