Obituary: Nicholas Faith

The eminent authority on Cognac, writer and journalist, Nicholas Faith, has died aged 84.

For many years a senior editor of the business pages at the Sunday Times and The Economist as well as a contributor to the Financial Times, Nicholas was best known for his work on wines and spirits most particularly his great love, Cognac.

His first book (he wrote 23 in all including one on Swiss bankers) The Winemasters won the André Simon Award, he was editor of L’Amateur de Bordeaux and in 1996 he founded the International Spirits Challenge.

Although he wrote extensively on many wine regions and countries, notably Bordeaux, Australia and Champagne (indeed he contributed an article on Dom Pérignon to the October issue of the drinks business) it was his work on Cognac for which he was best known.

His first book on the spirit was released in the 1980s and was written, as he put it, because at the time he realised, “there was no worthwhile book on Cognac”.

The third edition was published in 2013. Such was his contribution to the region that in 2010 he was the first recipient of the Lifetime Achievement Award given by the Bureau National Interprofessional de Cognac.

David Baker, managing director of Hermitage Cognacs, said of Nicholas: “His knowledge of the Cognac industry was wide, regularly supported by regular visits to the area, meeting growers, producers and negociants. he was able to speak fluently in French and his relationship with many firms was one where he became highly respected by all he came into contact with.

“But Nick was a financial journalist and his writing skills led him to write many books on the golden nectar, indeed, they have become “the standard” on cognac including many historical, geographical and production facts for which he was awarded an honorary fellowship at the BNIC.

“Nick will be sorely missed, not just as a great authority on Cognacs but as an inspiration to the industry. He was one of the Cognac greats.”

As well as wines and spirits his body of work also covers classic trains and the impact of the railway, the rotary engine and various disasters involving planes, trains and cars and why they happened.

Nicholas passed away peacefully in hospital this week. His family were with him.