Otard was founded in 1795 by Jean-Baptiste Otard just after his return from exile in England having almost been killed during the Revolution. He bought the only royal château in Cognac, which had become a property of the State. His “Voûtes Basses” low-vaulted cellars on the banks of the Charente offered good humidity and consistent temperatures for ageing cognac. After the business struggled at the end of the 20th century, the brand was relaunched by Bacardi, who renamed it Baron Otard after Jean-Baptiste Otard’s title of nobility.

Otard VSOP (Very Superior Old Pale) is a cognac made with eaux-de-vie aged for at least 4 years in oak casks.