Rémy Martin XO Excellence was created in 1981 and represents the prestige tier of the house's Fine Champagne range. XO is assembled from a blend of eaux-de-vie drawn exclusively from Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, aged for a minimum of 10 years — with many component spirits considerably older — in Limousin and Tronçais oak barrels. The extended maturation produces a more complex and layered cognac than the VSOP: notes of fig, candied orange peel, dark chocolate, cinnamon, and soft leather develop from the interaction between spirit and wood over the decade of maturation. XO designation mandates a minimum of 10 years ageing under French cognac regulation. Bottled at 40% ABV in the recognisable curved decanter bottle.

Rémy Martin was founded in 1724 by a Charente winegrower and is one of the four grandes maisons of Cognac. It is the only major cognac house that produces exclusively from Fine Champagne eaux-de-vie — a legally defined blend of Grande Champagne and Petite Champagne, the two most prestigious of Cognac's six crus. Both crus are defined by their chalky, limestone-rich soil, which produces Ugni Blanc grapes with high acidity and concentration, ideal for the long maturation of fine cognac. Rémy Martin has been majority-owned by the Cointreau family since 1965 and is now part of Rémy Cointreau group.