AE Dor Bottle Catalogue (last updated Nov 5, 2024)
(319 bottles, 25 magnums and 475 miniatures, but still incomplete)
AE Dor is best known for its exclusive old cognacs. The company started in 1858. Established by Baptiste Dor, it got its name AE Dor in 1889 from his son Amedée Eduard Dor. The company was sold in 1972 to the Bénédictine group, but in 1982 they were ‘rescued’ from this group by Jacques and Odile Rivière. It was quite a surprise when they found a huge stock of very old cognacs. Odile Rivière appeared to have a natural talent for blending and became a famous maître de chais. Her cognacs are very sought after by connoisseurs all over the world. Very sadly Odile died rather young in a car accident. Jacques continued the business and now their son Pierre-Antoine Rivière is leading the company.
Their logo is a crown on top of a laurel that holds the kapital D. Undernearth is the date of establishment and their name. In the past other emblems are used.
One characteristic feature of AE Dor is that they issue a lot of series, what makes it interesting for collectionneurs. I have made some series here.
Contents:
1. Stars
2. VS and Sélection
3. VSOP
4. Albane
5. Napoléon
6. XO
7. Prestigueus Cognacs
– 7a. Soleil d’Austerlitz, Roi de Rome and Prince Albert
– 7b. Numbers 1 till 5
– 7c. Prestigueus Grande Champagne cognacs
– 7d. Prestigueus Fine Champagne cognacs
– 7e. Other Prestigueus cognacs
– 7f. Numbers 6 till 11
– 7g. Vintages (other than above)
8. Limited editions and specials (Embleme, Cigar, Seasons)
9. Opera
10. Other Decanters
11. Magnums and more
12. Small bottles
– 12a. 500ml
– 12b. 350ml
– 12c. 200ml
– 12d. 100ml
– 12e. Miniatures, 3-5cl
— 12e1. Three stars
— 12e2. (Rare) Fine Champagne and Vieille Fine Champagne
— 12e3. VS
— 12e4. Sélection
— 12e5. VS Sélection
— 12e6. Pur Cru
— 12e7. VSOP
— 12e8. Albane
— 12e9. Famille Réserve (No.1)
— 12e10. Napoléon
— 12e11. XO
— 12e12. XO no.2
— 12e13. XO JR
— 12e14. Hors d’Age
— 12e15. Numbers 1 till 11
— 12e16. Other vintages
— 12e17. Specials (Embleme, cigar, Seasons, Ladies Club)
— 12e18. Opera
13. AE Dor Extravaganza
1. Stars
2. VS and Sélection
All are probably made of borderies and fins bois.
3. VSOP
Not sure about the first two bottles, but all other are fine champagne.
4. Albane
The number ‘one’ was originaly reserved for the 1893 Age d’Or, but the number has been ‘recycled’. It is a grande champagne cognac. Reserve Familiale means at least five years of age.
5. Napoléon
Blends: grande champagne, petite champagne, borderies and fins bois.
6. XO
The XO’s are Fine Champagne cognacs.
7. Prestigueus Cognacs
7a. Soleil d’Austerlitz, Roi de Rome and Prince Albert
Of the Soleil d’Austerlitz is said that only three bottles were produced; here ar two (30% alcohol).
Two bottles of Roi de Rome (31% alcohol). There also exists a Roi de Rome with similar to the first, but with 1811 in upright font.
Prince Albert is said to be from the year 1834 (30% alcohol). Why does the first bottle say 1846??
7b. Numbers 1 till 5
No. 1: Age d’Or
The Age d’Or is a grande champagne from 1893 and has 36% of alcohol.
No.2: Excellence
The Excellence is a grande champagne from 1889 and has 35% of alcohol.
No.3: Prince Impérial
The Prince Imperial is a grande champagne from 1875 and has 36% of alcohol.
No.4: Napoléon III Empereur
The Napoléon III Empereur is a grande champagne from 1858 and has 37% of alcohol.
No.5: Louis Philippe
The Louis Philippe is a grande champagne from 1840 and has 34% of alcohol.
7c. Prestigueus Grande Champagne cognacs
The first two are called Premier Consul. Napoléon Bonaparte was Premier Consul from 1799 until 1802. In 1802 he became Consul à vie and in 1804 Emperor. These bottles contain Grande Champagne cognac from these years (1799-1802). The labels are hand-written. The third is also a Premier Consul, 1800 vintage.
Next two are both Age d’Or. The bottles look much like the number 1 bottles that are from the year 1893 which are also called Age d’Or, but these bottles have not number 1 printed on them and have a neck label and a different shoulder blob.
The sixth bottle is a 1875 grande champagne, the same year as is number 3 Prince Impérial, but this bottle has not the number 3 printed on it.
The seventh bottle is the Maine Chaudin from 1923.
Last two bottles are limited éditions Napoléon III, 1848, grande fine champagne.
7d. Prestigueus Fine Champagne cognacs
The above bottles are all fine champagnes. The first bottle is a 1834 of 30% as is the Prince Albert. But the Prince Albert is a grande champagne and this here is a fine champagne. The second one is a 1840 of 34% alcohol as is the no.5 Louis Philippe. But again this is a fine champagne and the Louis Philippe is a grande champagne.
The fifth one is a 1889 as is the no.2 Excellence. Again: this is a fine champagne , were the Excellence is a grande champagne.
The 1893 is the same year as the number one Age d’Or has, but the number one is a grande champagne of 36%. The last bottle does not bear a year.
7e. Other prestigueus cognacs
7f. Numbers 6 till 11
The numbers 6, 7 and 8 are still being produced today. These are between 30 and 50 years of age, number 6 being the youngest.
The numbers 9, 10 and 11 are not produced anymore. The first two are 50 years and older and number 11 has a minimum of 70 years. Number 9 is not fully grande champagne, but has 20% fins bois.
No. 6:
The no. 6 Grande Champagne can have different adjectives: Grande Réserve, Hors d’Age and Vieille Réserve.
The number 6 is the youngest of the series. It has 40% alcohol.
No. 7:
The no. 7 Grande Champagne is 42% alcohol and can have different adjectives: Grande Réserve, Hors d’Age and Vieille Réserve.
No. 8:
The numbers 6, 7 and 8 are still being produced. Numbers 9, 10 and 11 are not.
No. 9:
Some of the number 9. The number nine is predominantly grande champagne but contains also 20% fins bois. It comes at 40%.
No. 10:
Number 10 is grande champagne and has 41.5% alcohol.
No. 11:
Number 11 is grande champagne and has 43% alcohol. It is the oldest of the series with seventy years of age.
7g. Other vintages
8. Limited editions and Specials
Domaines de la Barde & St. Leger:
Embleme:
Embleme was created to celebrate 150 year AE Dor in 2008. Made of Grande Champagne and Fins Bois.
Cigar:
Blend of different cru’s.
Other:
9. Opera
VS and Sélection are fins bois cognac. VSOP is a blend of grande and petite champagne (fine champagne). Napoleon is a blend of grande champagne, borderies and another (fins bois or petite champagne?). XO is a blend of grande and petite champagne (fine champagne). Extra is a blend of grande champagne and another (borderies or fins bois?). Legend is a blend of grande champagne and borderies; special reserve gold is a blend of grande champagne, petite champagne and borderies.
10. Other decanters
More on Sign of Time at the Extravaganza page.
11. Magnums and more
Magnums:
Double magnums:
12. Small bottles
12a. 500ml bottles
12b. 350ml bottles
12c. 200ml bottles
12d. 100ml bottles
12e. miniature bottles (3-5cl)
12e1. Three stars
3cl:
5cl:
12e2. (Rare) Fine Champagne and Vieille Fine Champagne
3cl:
Last bottle is a curiosity: it says ‘grande champagne’ and underneath is written ‘rare fine champagne’.
5cl:
12e3. VS
3cl:
5cl:
12e4. Sélection
3cl:
5cl:
12e5. VS Sélection
5cl:
12e6. Pur Cru
12e7. VSOP
3cl:
5cl:
All the above are fine champagne or rare fine champagne
12e8. Albane (=number 1, see famille Reserve)
12e9. Famille Réserve (No.1)
12e10. Napoléon
3cl:
5cl wide type bottles:
5cl high bottles:
5cl red labels:
12e11. XO
3cl:
5cl:
12e12. XO no.2
3cl:
5cl:
The third and fourth bottle have both 5cl stated, deviating from all other cru series where the gold cap bottles not being grande champagne, have their content not stated (see the page with the series).
12e13. XO JR (Jacques Rivière)
12e14. Hors d’Age
12e15. Numbers 1 till 11
First three old ones, not really in a series:
Number 1 “Age d’Or”, 1893:
Number 2 “Excellence”, 1889:
Number 3 “Prince Imperial”, 1875:
Number 4 “Napoléon III Empereur”, 1858:
Number 5 “Louis Philippe”, 1840:
Number 6:
3cl:
5cl:
Number 7:
3cl:
5cl:
Number 8:
3cl:
5cl:
Number 9:
3cl:
5cl:
Note: the last bottle says it is grande champagne, but no. 9 is 80% grande champagne and 20% fins bois!
Number 10:
3cl:
5cl:
Number 11:
3cl:
5cl:
12e16. Other vintages
12e17. Specials
Embleme:
Cigar:
3cl:
5cl:
Seasons:
Ladies club:
12e18. Opera
These Opera’s are 5cl miniatures.
13. AE Dor Extravaganza
The very expensive and extravagant bottles of AE Dor have their own page, with room for a more extensive description of the bottles: Soleil d’Auserlitz, Roi de Rome, Prince Albert, the numbers 1 till 11 and the Sign of Time and a few others.
Click on this link to see AE Dor Extravaganza.