Marco Sumayao

Heritage of Excellence Cyril Camus celebrates his family’s sesquicentennial in the cognac industry with his latest masterpiece In 1998, after a 5-year stint in Beijing as the company’s Director of Commercial Relations, Cyril Camus returned to the sprawling vineyards of his family estate in Cognac, France, where the Camus legacy began. Inspired by his experiences in China, France, the United States, and Singapore, he sought to bring the brand to greater heights, cementing cognac’s place as one of the world’s most prestigious spirits through product innovation and a greater international presence. At the core of its continued development, however, would remain strong ties to tradition, as the Camus name has been at the forefront of the premium cognac industry for 150 years. Heritage is of utmost importance to Cyril Camus. As the fifth generation Camus to helm the company, the 42-year-old successor fully understands the living tradition that comes with the privilege of running the family business. The brand’s storied past comes alive in the Masterpiece Collection by Cyril Camus, the cellar master’s homage to his family and its craft. “When my father took me traveling with him, I think this is when I really started to realize what the company was about, what the brand really meant,” Camus says. “If I had to describe us in two words, it would be passion and respect.” The latest jewel in the company’s collection, Camus Cuveé 5.150, celebrates each generation to lead the company through a eau-de-vie that captures the tastes, aroma, and character of its inspiration. Jean-Baptiste Camus, who founded the distillery in 1863, came from humble beginnings as a winegrower. His passion for the craft led him to create his own house, one that could stand as a testament to his high standards of quality. The first eau-de-vie in Cuveé 5.150, Bon Bois, was hand-selected by Cyril Camus for its rugged, yet noble qualities. Jean-Baptiste was succeeded by his two sons, Edmond and Gaston. It was during their time as Master Blender and chief exporter that Camus made its way to Russia, where it was proclaimed the official cognac of Tsar Nicholas II. The Fins Bois is a tribute to the era’s intensity and opulence, powerful yet smooth in character. In 1932, Michel Camus entered the family business, hoping to continue the success his grandfather began. Michel recognized the family product’s esteemed characteristics and highlighted them through exceptional presentations, with fine Limoges porcelain and Baccarat crystal decanters. With Petite Champagne, Cyril Camus blends Michel’s dignified personality into Cuveé 5.150 with a rich, supple eau-de-vie. Jean-Paul Camus marked his time as Master Blender with the acquisition of vineyards in the Borderies region of Cognac, where the Camus family’s origins are rooted. In honor of his father’s vision and sense of tradition, Cyril Camus selected the Borderies eau-de-vie to represent Jean-Paul’s contribution to the company’s 150-year-long opus. For the fifth chapter of Camus’ sophisticated history, Cyril Camus added Grand Champagne as the final ingredient to Cuveé 5.150’s elegant blend. Forward, yet still reminiscent of previous perfumes and tastes, the last eau-de-vie to grace the cuvee is a testament to the cognac’s past, present, and future. Encapsulating the importance of heritage is the spirit’s exquisite bottle. Based on a design noted French sculptor Serge Mansau crafted for Camus’ 100-year Jubilee blend, the cognac is encased in a shimmering Baccarat crystal decanter that allows the amber liquid to glow radiantly through its surface. The end result is a gem as rich as the Camus family’s history of excellence. A project as intimate as Cuveé 5.150 solidifies the Camus family’s living tradition. “Cognac is the most pleasant of places. It’s unbelievable. Growing up in a vineyard, you get a sense of space, and of time as well,” explains Camus. “Our role is to sublime the quality of a cognac that already has a personality and that is the reflection of the soil it comes from. That gives our product a very unique style – amazingly authentic. True. Quotes from Cyril Camus taken from “Living Tradition by Cyril Camus” from Camus Cognac, viewable at http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Mq67zJ-SzV0.