Perhaps The Finest Cognac in the World
Cognac Prunier
The House of Maison Prunier (often mispronounced as “Pruney”) is one of the oldest independent Cognac houses in France, with a history spanning over 250 years.
Founding and Early Years (1701–1850)
The Prunier family’s involvement in the spirits trade dates back to 1701, when Jean Prunier (1665–1732) began working as a wholesaler in La Rochelle, exporting eaux-de-vie globally.
- 1769: This year is officially recognized as the house’s founding, marking when the family first began bottling and shipping products under the Prunier name from the town of Cognac.
- 1850: Foreseeing the importance of the railway, Jean Prunier built a new family home and cellars near the Cognac railway station. This site remains the company’s headquarters today.
Expansion and the Burnez Transition (1850–1918)
During the 19th century, the house expanded its international footprint:
- Global Reach: Under the sons of Jean Prunier—Alphonse, Marcel, and Gaston—the business reached new markets. Gaston notably founded a branch in Melbourne, Australia, while Marcel managed European representation.
- The Burnez Lineage: Alphonse Prunier, the last direct male descendant, died childless in 1918. His widow called upon her nephew, Jean Burnez, to lead the company, marking the transition to the Burnez-Prunier family line that still manages the house today.
- WWII Preservation: During the German occupation of France, the family hid their rarest stocks in secret sub-cellars. They stored the cognac in demijohns, sealed the floor, and placed barrels on top to prevent discovery.
- Gimeux Cellars: Following the war, Prunier acquired additional cellars in the village of Gimeux, which are prized for their high humidity and ideal aging conditions.
Current Management and Tradition
- Production Style: Unlike larger houses, Prunier does not own its own vineyards. They act as négociants, carefully selecting and buying eaux-de-vie from local growers to age and blend in their own historic cellars.
- Iconic Symbol: The house’s emblem is “La Vieille Maison” (the Old House), a medieval building in Cognac built around 1490 and owned by the family.
LES CLASSIQUES PREMIUM
Les Classiques Premium & Liqueur d’Orange & Cognac
GRAND PRESTIGE
Cognac Prunier Grand Prestige
We wanted to share our way of drinking Cognac, which is in fact in the tradition of my ancestors. When you drink a cognac with your family, you are looking for the authenticity and purity of cognac and the principle is simple, more than forty years of aging in barrels, temperate cellars, the same barrels for all aging and above all not to touch cognacs. Nature and time take care of the quality.
LES MILLÉSIME
Cognac Prunier Les Millesime
Throughout the history of Cognac, the Charentais have consumed Cognacs straight from their cellars taken from barrels and drank as is. For more than 20 years, Maison Prunier has been offering its unique old Cognacs “bruts de casks”, produced in a few hundred copies per vintage.
