The Martell brothers on upholding the legacy of the renowned cognac

In this day and age, it is rare to find brands with a legacy that spans centuries—and even rarer still to find one that continues to be safely guarded by the family that first started it. Cognac brand Martell boast slightly over 300 years of passion and audacity, having been founded by Jean Martell in 1715 at the height of French art de vivre, when gastronomy, taste, and craftsmanship were celebrated and enjoyed with style. In fact, in Malaysia itself, the cognac house is documented to have been present since 1874—just reaching the century-and-a-half mark.

To celebrate the maison’s heritage, Martell flew in its Martell Heritage Team, which among others, include Amaury and Thierry Firino Martell—brothers who are the ninth-generation members of the Martell family.

Read more: Discovering Martell Chanteloup XXO via a multi-sensorial experience

Speaking to them about the prestigious family name and more, both brothers seem humble and shared that their childhood was very much akin to others. “Growing up in Cognac our name is quite common, and then you go overseas and you realise the difference; you see your name on the walls, and you appreciate the fact that this name has given you a lot of opportunities to travel the world and meet a lot of people,” says Thierry.

On whether there was any pressure associated with their famous last name, Amaury who works more closely with the brand as a winegrower and distiller states that “We’ve got eight generations before us, and more coming, so there’s always an exchange of knowledge and experience coming from family, so we naturally grew up loving it.”