[4] Martell used grapes from the vineyards in the Borderie subregion for his eaux-de-vie, and Tronçais oak for its casks, a combination that resulted in an exceptionally smooth cognac.

[1] The use of English-language designations like "very superior old pale" and "extra old" reflected aged cognac's status as primarily an export product.

[1] In 1795 a marriage between the Hennessy and Martell families[6] cemented a strategic alliance that created an effective duopoly in the cognac market.

[9] Martell Cordon Bleu was served at the coronation of George V, on the maiden voyage of the RMS Queen Mary, and on board the Concorde.

[10] In 1987, Seagram took control of Martell in a deal worth around $600 million, reportedly attracted by cognac's high profit margin.

[11] According to the Wall Street Journal, Seagram largely neglected the brand, and while other cognac producers experienced a boom in the 1990s, driven by increased consumption among African Americans, Martell's sales declined.

In 2006, Martell joined the Comité Colbert, an association that promotes French luxury houses on an international scale.

[17] A bottle of Martell Cordon Bleu can be seen in the opening scene of Apocalypse Now (1979), on the bedside table of Captain Willard (played by Martin Sheen).