Cognac Ferrand launched its Renegade Barrel assortment — through which its brandies had been completed in numerous kinds of totally different casks — again in 2018. This version, #3, is our first encounter with the road. It begins with classic 2011 Ferrand Premier Cru Cognac and finishes the brandy in Plantation 1996 Jamaica HJC rum casks (which is handy, as the 2 distilleries share possession). The ending violates the AOC’s strict naming conventions, so that is technically now not Cognac. Formally, Ferrand refers to it as an Eau-de-Vie de Vin.
The brandy is certainly an odd mixture of the 2 spirits. The nostril has a definite rum funk character, notes of petrol and hogo rapidly dominating. There’s sweetness beneath, however its supply is vague. Rum or brandy isn’t readily placeable, although a notice of raisin is obvious with time in glass. Because it develops, the brandy takes on a extra austere Turkish rug store character.
On the palate, the expertise stays each a powerhouse and a shock. Once more the spirit hews way more carefully to rum than Cognac, providing notes of closely charred wooden, darkish chocolate, darkish roast espresso beans, and black pepper. The astute reader will affiliate none of that with brandy of any sort, in fact, and Renegade No. 3 by no means actually strays removed from that profile. Positive, some hints at turbinado sugar and an nearly prune-level raisin character give the end some much-needed sweetness, but it surely’s a very long time coming, and by no means wholly in a position to stability out the extra oppressive, funky rum notes within the combine. It’s definitely fascinating, however by no means overtly pleasant the way in which good brandy at all times is. Moist asphalt is the flavour that adheres to the tongue the longest.
The feds don’t let Ferrand name this Cognac, and admittedly I wouldn’t name it Cognac, both.
96.4 proof.
B- / $90 / maisonferrand.com
Ferrand Renegade Barrel No. 3
$90
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