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Ferrand cognac is aged exclusively in 350-liter "Limousin" oak casks. Young "eaux-de-vie" are first stored in new barrels for a few months and moved to older casks as it mellows with age. As much as 3% of cognac production each year escapes into the air through the casks. This evaporation is known as the Angel's Share. |
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In term of aging, Cognac Ferrand far exceeds most of the regular cognacs. According to French law, a VS must be aged 2.5 years, a VSOP 4 years, a NAPOLEON or an XO 6 years. Ferrand Cognacs are only made with old "eau-de-vie", using the traditional craftsmen methods. To bring cognac to the ideal proof, we have developed another process called "La Technique des petites eaux". Barrels of about 30 years old are half filled with distilled water. After three to six months, the water gains a strength of 15% to 20 % alcohol. The water has absorbed some of the cognac, which remained in the wood of the barrel. It is these precious "petites eaux", not water, that we use to reduce the cognac's alcohol content down to 40 %. At Ferrand, this operation lasts from 3 to 6 years because we reduce the strength by 3 % every 3 to 6 months. We do not like overly-oaked cognacs, so we developed a process called "redouellage" (restaving). We take our old barrels and change one or two staves only. The cognac they are filled with can breathe through the wood and mellow with age without becoming too oaky. |
