The house of Hardy owes its name to a 19th century British gentleman, Anthony Hardy. As a wine and spirits professional, Anthony traveled regularly to the Charentes region to monitor quality and secure supplies of Cognac's finest eaux de vie. He fell in love with the region and eventually settled there. He founded Hardy in 1863 and, as a great Francophile, went so far as to adopt the Gallic cockerel as his company emblem.
Over the generations, the rooster grows and develops internationally, mainly in Eastern Europe. Jacques Hardy, 4th generation opens new markets in North America, South America and English-speaking Africa. And, even though the House produces a full range - VS, VSOP, XO - he decides to concentrate mainly on the luxury segment of the market, top-of-the-range Cognacs, presented in crystal decanters. Thus, in 1960, the Anniversaire de Mariage series was born, with "Noces de Perles" (Cognac with an average age of 30 years), "Noces d'Or" (50 years), "Noces de Diamant" (60 years), "Noces d'Albâtre" (75 years), and "Noces d'Argent" (25 years - revisited in 2015).
Today, Bénédicte Hardy embodies the family's fifth generation. She, in turn, has taken up the challenge of creating decanters with a "haute couture spirit", as the brand claims. While the "Five Elements" series - five decanters named "Water", "Flame", "Air", "Earth" and "Light" - created in partnership with Daum crystalware holds a special place in her heart, her real masterstroke was convincing Lalique to participate in the "Four Seasons" range. The "Spring" decanter was released in 2013 (Vinexpo award), "Summer" came out in December 2015, the "Autumn" decanter was presented at Salon Vinexpo 2017, before "Winter" in 2019.
In 2012, a Cognac Grande Champagne bottled in 1983 by Jacques Hardy joins the Caryota decanter imagined by Marie-Claude Lalique in a precious box. This limited edition of 333, bears the signature of Bénédicte Hardy.
The rooster Hardy lovingly watches over a collection of Cognac with a feminine temperament. Cellar master Mickaël Bouilly plays with sensual, refined eaux-de-vie. To open a bottle or decanter Hardy is to open a precious piece Rare. Collaborations with Daum crystal and Lalique bear witness to this taste for the exceptional.
