The person displaying me across the prime suite on the Lodge Chais Monnet and Spa is way too Gallic and discreet to answer after I ask excitedly, ‘So, did Beyoncé keep right here too?’
He’s already by some means let slip that Jay-Z himself graced the resort whereas visiting Cognac to launch the distillery that produces his personal model of the spirit.
It’s no secret that previously few years, cognac has discovered favour with sure members of the rap world who seemingly determined champagne wasn’t fairly unique sufficient.
Mr Z’s label is known as D’Ussé, and the D’Ussé 1969 Anniversaire – created to have fun his fiftieth birthday – prices a whopping $5,000 (that’s £4,000) per bottle.
To not be outdone, 50 Cent has launched his personal, referred to as Branson Cognac, and has additionally been noticed on this in any other case sleepy little city (I can solely think about what the locals – most of whom seem like extras in a Fifties movie: all berets, baguettes and bicycles – made from this).
At the very least there’s now someplace fabulous for rap royalty to remain. Till lately, there have been no posh resorts within the space however Chais Monnet was unveiled with a lot fanfare, costing £50 million.
It was once – what else? – a cognac distillery and cellar but it surely’s been expertly transformed into an impressive 92-room, 13-suite property that includes a spa, a pool, two eating places and a trendy bar named Jazz Bar 1838 (after the yr the distillery opened).
The unique low-slung, honey-hued stone buildings now distinction with two huge glass-and-steel annexes, which surprisingly work superbly collectively.
The rooms
Half are within the authentic constructing and the remainder are within the new buildings however the design is identical all through, with soothing cream and beige tones.
My rest room has beautiful, pistachio-coloured tiles I’d like to prise off and take house, and a bathe that places new oomph into the ability ingredient.
The massive mattress lulls me to sleep nearly immediately (this can be because of the glasses of pineau, a neighborhood aperitif made with wine and cognac, I had at dinner).
The tribe
Locals flock to the extra casual restaurant, La Distillerie, for informal lunches, dinners and all- you-can-eat Sunday brunches (it's also possible to fine-dine at Les Foudres, set within the huge, cathedral-like former cellar).
Loads of couples and household teams have come to pattern their method around the cognac homes – no rappers had been sighted throughout my keep.
The native vibe
Hennessy, Martell and Rémy Martin are all inside strolling distance if you wish to discover extra mainstream cognacs.
E book in for a tasting tour of the historic distillery that produces Jay-Z’s (from £15pp).
Take in the city’s environment with a stroll by the Charente river or head to the lined meals market at Rue Berthe.
Drop into cocktail king Tony Conigliaro’s cognac bar Luciole.
If you happen to’re driving, you may go for a pootle spherical close by villages or as much as La Rochelle.
British Airways flies to nearest airport, Bordeaux, from about £30 a technique; rooms from £245pn, chaismonnethotel.com.
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