The fairy tale of the young lieutenant Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen, who went to Cognac in search of fame and fortune, is a story that calls out to us. Thomas’ father ran Holmestrands Samlag for Brændevinshandel, an alcohol monopoly, in the second half of the 19th century.

He left for Cognac in 1903. As in most fairy tales, good friends are always welcome, and another Norwegian, Peter Anton Rustad from Ås to Akershus, was already established in the area. He chose the young Bache-Gabrielsen as his partner when they took over the cabinet of A. Edmond Dupuy in 1905. This meant that Thomas was not only in the Cognac region, but also in the Cognac market. To cut a long success story short, Thomas got married and won “The Princess and Half the Kingdom”. Or almost. He became the son-in-law of an old winemaking family, strengthening the business and adding to his knowledge of wine production. In 1916 Rustad died in a motorcycle accident and Thomas continued on his own. Its relations with Scandinavia, and Norway in particular, were good.

The Cognac house is now run by Hervé Bache-Gabrielsen, great-grandson of Thomas Bache-Gabrielsen, who recently took over the day-to-day management of the business from his father, Christian Bache-Gabrielsen, who is now Chairman of the Board.

“A passion for cognac but also a passion for nature and for exploration. This is what animated my grandfather when he arrived in Cognac to create his business.”
Hervé Bache-Gabrielsen