This previous summer season, Daniel and Christine Cooney, co-owners of Heavenly Spirits, designed a visit round one in all their favourite spirits: Cognac.
By Daniel Cooney
It is a spirit near their hearts, as Christine, who was born within the Cognac area of France, spent summers at her grandparent’s farm north of La Rochelle, the place she watched her grandfather, Amedee Foubert, run his vineyard and distill eau de vie from plums and different fruit grown on the farm. Dan got here to like the Cognac area himself, dwelling there for 5 years together with his younger household earlier than returning to the States. Extra lately, Dan and Christine bought a property within the coronary heart of the Grande Champagne, lovingly known as “Le Cot,” a former Cognac winery compound which they’re turning into an academic retreat.
Cognac Travelogue by Daniel Cooney: With distinctive views supplied by Macaulay Minton.
Edouard Normandin and Macaulay Minton at Cognac Normandin-Mercier
Day 1: Immersion in Cognac
We had been joined on our exploration of a number of the main craft Cognac producers by a particular visitor, Macaulay Minton, founding father of Darkish Arts Whiskey Home in Lexington, Kentucky. His presence allowed us to share deeper perception to this historic spirit, by contrasting it with the angle of a contemporary American craft whisky producer. What ensued was a one-of-a-kind cultural {and professional} change.
Day 2: Barrels & Terroir
Christophe Fillioux and Macaulay Minton tasting by means of expressions of Jean Fillioux Cognac
Our first cease was Cognac Jean Fillioux, situated within the coronary heart of the distinguished Grande Champagne area—only a quick drive from Le Cot, our Retreat Heart. There, Christophe Fillioux walked us by means of an interesting demonstration exhibiting how six totally different barrels, made by six totally different coopers, can subtly alter and have an effect on style variations in the identical batch of Cognac eau-de-vie. A masterclass in wooden, craftsmanship, and ageing, this expertise set the tone for the week forward.
An American whisky maker’s perspective:
“Driving by means of the Cognac area and passing by all of the vineyards instills a profound admiration for the craft of distillation, and an appreciation for the sacrifices of generations who’ve nurtured the land and cultivated the best grapes for brandy manufacturing. The meticulous particulars of distillation and ageing that go into the method, and the deep connection to the artwork of manufacturing is exactly why I fell in love with the area whereas visiting”
That afternoon, we visited the Musée du Savoir-Faire du Cognac, located alongside the Charente River within the historic coronary heart of the town. This well-curated museum explores the total historical past of Cognac—from its financial roots to its emergence because the world’s most revered brandy.
An American whisky maker’s perspective:
“From my observations, Cognac faces an array of formidable obstacles: shifting client demand and tastes, the impacts of worldwide warming, stringent authorities laws, and overarching points equivalent to geopolitics and tariffs that loom giant over the area. It’s disappointing to see how a lot exhausting work and dedication to the craft may be undermined … as it’s my opinion that spirits have a number of the most potential to attach individuals on a standard floor.”
Day 3: The Artwork of the Barrel & Terroir
Gauthier Allary explaining barrel toasting at Tonnellerie Allary
On Wednesday, we headed to the village of Archiac to go to the family-owned Tonnellerie Allary cooperage. Assembly with a number of members of the Allary household, we discovered concerning the historical past and complicated craft of barrel-making, together with the sourcing and seasoning of the wooden, and charring of the barrels, a significant (but typically underappreciated) aspect of spirit manufacturing.
Subsequent on our journey, we visited Distillerie du Peyrat, a number one producer of natural Cognac based mostly within the Positive Bois cru. Antoine Rault and his brother Guillaume RAULT now handle this fifth-generation Cognac manufacturing home. We had been warmly welcomed by Antoine and his father, Jean-François Rault. The 2 spoke about terroir, and natural practices, as they shared their ongoing improvements and explorations in sustainable Cognac manufacturing.
The angle of an American Whisky maker:
“Distillerie du Peyrat stood out for its willingness to push boundaries past what conventional strategies most Cognac producers observe. The vineyards are licensed natural, and Antoine employs what he phrases “fatty distillation” in his cuts, in addition to distilling lees wine for extra distinctive distillates.”
Day 4: Tasting by the Sea
Thursday took us to Christine Cooney’s hometown, the charming port metropolis of La Rochelle, the place we had been hosted by NORMANDIN – MERCIER, one other of our Cognac companions. After a full cellar tour and tasting session, we had been handled to an unforgettable lunch that includes trout carpaccio, recent oysters, roasted hen with potatoes, and a selfmade honey cake for dessert. Edouard Normandin and his sister AUDREY N. now characterize the fifth technology of the household to run this extremely regarded and revolutionary Cognac home.
An American whisky maker’s perspective:
“A recurring theme I noticed among the many makers was the fragile stability of honoring the historic strategies of manufacturing, maturation, and mixing established by earlier generations whereas additionally discovering methods to infuse their distinctive views into the evolving narrative and spirit of the homes they characterize.”
Day 5: Botanical Spirits and Historic Roots
Alexandre Gabriel of Citadelle Gin
In a slight foray from the world of Cognac, we ended the work week with a Friday afternoon go to to the Citadelle Gin distillery, one in all France’s pioneering craft gin producers, for a behind-the-scenes tour led by the proprietor himself, Alexandre Gabriel. The expansive property is an impressively restored property, traditionally related with the famed Maison Ferrand Cognac household. It incorporates a reward store, an orangery, a forest of juniper timber, and a unprecedented assortment of stills. The location is open to the general public for scheduled excursions and can also be accessible to hire for weddings and different personal occasions.
About Heavenly Spirits
Dan Cooney, Christophe Fillioux, Christine Cooney, and Macaulay Minton at Cognac Jean Fillioux
At Heavenly Spirits, we consider within the worth of cross-cultural exchanges that remember craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation. Primarily based in Massachusetts, we’re proud to be the main importer and distributor of genuine craft spirits—accountable for bringing over 40% of all Armagnac into the U.S. every year. We additionally import a variety of natural Cognac, natural French whisky, and are the Massachusetts distributor of Darkish Arts Whiskey.
This go to was a spirited success—and only the start of what we hope will likely be many extra collaborations between American spirit fanatics and French spirit artisans.
