Our history

Introduction

The Rémy Cointreau Group, whose Charentaise origins date back to 1724, is the result of the 1990 merger of holding companies owned by the Hériard Dubreuil and Cointreau families, which controlled E. Rémy Martin & Cie SA and Cointreau & Cie SA, respectively. The Group is also the result of successive partnerships with other companies active in the same wines and spirits business lines.

Important dates

  • 1703

    Mount Gay Rum is founded in Barbados

  • 1724

    The Rémy Martin cognac house is established

  • 1849

    Cointreau & Cie is founded by the Cointreau brothers

  • 1881

    The Bruichladdich Distillery is built on Islay

  • 1888

    The Metaxa brand is founded

  • 1924

    André Renaud acquires E. Rémy Martin & Co SA

  • 1965

    André Hériard Dubreuil takes over from his father-in-law André Renaud

  • 1966

    Rémy Martin’s international distribution network is established

  • 1980

    Rémy Martin forms the Sino-French Dynasty Winery joint venture with the city of Tianjin (China)

  • 1985

    Rémy Martin acquires the Charles Heidsieck Champagne house

  • 1986

    The Passoã brand is created

  • 1988

    Rémy Martin acquires the Piper-Heidsieck Champagne house

  • 1989

    Acquisition of Mount Gay Rum by the Rémy Martin Group

  • 1990

    Pavis SA transfers its shares in Rémy Martin to Cointreau & Cie SA

  • 1991

    The Group adopts the corporate name of Rémy Cointreau

  • 1999

    The Maxxium distribution joint venture is established with three partners, Rémy Cointreau, The Edrington Group and Jim Beam Brands Worldwide (Fortune Brands)

  • 2000

    Bols Royal Distilleries is acquired, incorporating brands such as Bols and Metaxa

  • 2001

    Vin & Sprit joins the Maxxium network as a fourth partner

  • 2005

    Dynasty Fine Wines Group is listed on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange

  • 2005

    Bols’ Polish operations are sold to CEDC

  • 2006

    The Dutch and Italian Liqueurs & Spirits operations are sold

  • 2006

    Rémy Cointreau decides to resume full control over its distribution by March 2009

  • 2008

    A proprietary distribution structure is put in place

  • 2009

    30 March: Rémy Cointreau exits the Maxxium distribution joint venture

  • 2009

    1 April: Rémy Cointreau now controls 80% of its distribution

  • 2011

    8 July: Rémy Cointreau sells its Champagne division to EPI

  • 2012

    3 September: Bruichladdich Distillery is acquired, producing single malt whiskies on the isle of Islay in Scotland

  • 2012

    20 November: François Hériard Dubreuil becomes Chairman of Rémy Cointreau

  • 2012

    18 December: the Larsen cognac company is acquired

  • 2013

    30 August: Larsen is sold to Finnish group Altia

  • 2015

    27 October: Izarra is sold to Spirited Brands

  • 2016

    1 December: a joint venture is set up for the Passoã activities

  • 2017

    5 January: the Domaine des Hautes Glaces distillery is acquired, producing single malt whiskies in the French Alps

  • 2017

    6 January: the Westland distillery is acquired, producing single malt whiskies in the state of Washington, USA

  • 2017

    1 October: Marc Hériard Dubreuil becomes Chairman of Rémy Cointreau

  • 2019

    1 April: Rémy Cointreau sells its distribution subsidiaries in the Czech Republic and Slovakia

  • 2020

    30 April: Rémy Cointreau acquires the J.R. Brillet cognac house

  • 2020

    16 October: Rémy Cointreau acquires the Telmont Champagne house