Cognac and Casinos

Go to any up to date casino, and alcohol is sure to be present. Certainly, discovering alcohol at casino venues is like seeing hats at horseracing tracks - it’s a tradition. And a combination of cognac and casino gambling is the most conventional mix of all. Take, for example, the first public and legal casino of the West, the Ridotto casino. Alcohol was there from the beginning, right from the very first day the casino had opened its doors to the public, as an inseparable part of the gaming celebration.

Cognac, in fact, is a special brandy that comes from a specific region in France - the Cognac region. The alcohol served at Casino Ridotto was probably a combination of native wines, sweet Italian liqueurs, and fermented brews, but there’s a big chance cognac was there also. As stated, not too long before 1600, French wine merchants began to export cognac.  By the 18th century, casinos started to spring up in Germany, and alcohol was served in many forms, including French spirits. The journey from Cognac to any German casino is not at all far and alcohol that has been distilled from fine wine would ship well in oak casks. 

In 1854 gambling was legalized in the Principality of Monaco, which resulted the opening of Monte Carlo casino. European nobles and aristocrats gambled beneath the chandeliers and frescoed ceilings of the casino and the alcohol that flowed freely from France, especially Cognac and Champagne, made the experience even better.

From 1931 onward, Las Vegas emerged as the gambling capital of the world. The important role of alcohol in the city’s casinos is clear. Giving away free beverages cheapened the worth of beer, wine, cocktails, and even champagne. Why pay for booze when it’s free? One of the only exceptions was Cognac. This alcohol was saved for prime rollers, celebrities, and VIP guests. Until today, Cognac and Casino blend together great.