The exclusive experience lets visitors sample Winston Churchill's favorite cognac in his old war rooms.
By Ellys Woodhouse

It is just before 11am and despite London’s signature drizzle, in Whitehall, the crowds have begun to gather in anticipation of the changing of the guard. Raffles London at the OWO, however, is a much more comfortable vantage point. 

Overlooking from the hotel’s regal Guard’s Bar, it’s no exaggeration to say I’m in for a truly special experience – not least because the bar opened early so we could oversee this Royal protocol, but because I am sat with Baptiste Louiseau, cellar master at Louis XIII. The youngest cellar master in the Maison’s 150-year history met with Elite Traveler on a flying visit to the UK capital to showcase the new one-of-a-kind tasting experience from Louis XIII and Raffles London at the OWO. 

London has seen itself become a Mecca of sorts for Louis XIII fans. In November, Harrods debuted The Infinity Experience, the world’s first luxury spirit refill ritual that allows owners to extend the life of their classic Louis XIII decanters. Now, the Maison has joined forces with Raffles at its landmark location in Britain’s Old War Offices on another world first offering an exclusive tasting from its six-liter Mathusalem, pairing with specially selected caviars. 

On paper, the partnership between the leading cognac producer and the luxury hotel seems almost fated: Louis XIII was known as one of Winston Churchill’s favorite tipples, and now visitors to Raffles London at The OWO can sample the eaux-de-vie at the former Prime Minister’s workstation.  

It is Loiseau’s first time in London since the French cognac house and the luxury hotel joined forces to offer this one-of-a-kind tasting experience – and as the towering six-liter Mathusalem is wheeled over to us, it’s difficult to tell who between us is more excited. 

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