Xert annually bottles the 10 most coveted bottles of brandy

The small Castellón municipality of Xert is home to the production of what is considered the oldest brandy in the world, the Gran Maestre . A liquor of which only ten bottles are bottled a year and which makes it a collector's item, since it is not in vain that among its admirers it counted emperors, singers and government presidents, such as Aki Hito , Julio Iglesias or George Bush . However, the continuity in the production of this liquor gem is in danger, because the current owner of the winery, Julián Segarra, has no descendants or successor.

The origin of Xert brandy dates back to 1921 when Julián's great-grandfather acquired some barrels of rancid wine from the Bodega del Conde de Pestagua to distill it. The history of this brandy says that the Segarra family 's initial idea of distilling this liquor ended in failure. However, the Gran Maestre brandy brand was registered , and his parents, Julián says , preserved the original American oak barrel in which the brandy remains preserved, raised and aged until the moment it is bottled.

Over time, that business adventure has led the Segarra family brandy to Telegram Number Data become something unique and valuable because the bottles have sold for up to 30,000 euros, as happened last year. And of the 10 units of Grand Master that are produced per year, only one is sold to each client, some of whom have to wait their turn for 5 years, on a list. The names of the buyers are one of the secrets that surround the history of this liquor.

The fact that only 10 units of Gran Maestre are packaged has an explanation that is not without logic, one that justifies this minimum production in order not to lose the registration of the brand. Justification that involves the fact that the Segarras do not produce for profit or to compete in this market. Producing more would mean, as Julián likes to say , giving up the artisanal process and in parallel paying more to the Treasury, which controls the distillation processes.

Julián Segarra is considered almost the last manual distiller in Spain. He still supervises the entire production process and distills the liquor with an old bronze still that he heats powered by oak wood, which he collects in the area's mountains.

This master distiller continues to maintain the process of making liquor by distillation of aromatic and wild plants, without chemical additives being introduced into the circuit.

This family business generates, in addition to the Grand Master, other brandies or liqueurs under the Segarra brand . In addition to the star brandy, they also package 30 bottles of solera brandy and another 40 units of so-called aged brandy.

The love for distilled spirits goes back in time and experts point out that their distillation was done because of the qualities they had to combat some diseases. Experts point out that it is advisable to drink the liquor slowly and in very small sips. The liquor has digestive functions and is special for softening the strong sensation that remains in the taste buds after having eaten heavy desserts.