Ferrand S.D.A. Selection Des Anges Cognac

Ferrand Sélection Des Anges Cognac hails from the prestigious Grande Champagne cru of Cognac, France, a region renowned for its chalky soils and high-quality eaux-de-vie. This particular expression is a well-established classic, not a new creation, from Maison Ferrand, a house with roots stretching back over four centuries and ten generations of the Ferrand family involved in viticulture and distillation. Alexandre Gabriel revived the house in 1989, committed to preserving age-old craft production methods. "Sélection Des Anges," meaning "Selection of Angels," poignantly refers to the significant portion of spirit that evaporates during its long maturation – an average of 30 years in French oak barrels, some of which previously held Sauternes wine. This extended aging in varied cellar conditions, a practice sometimes involving a unique 18th-century chai built with stones from an old Roman amphitheater, results in a Cognac known for its rich, round, and complex character with notes of fruit, flowers, and spice.

Ferrand S.D.A. Selection Des Anges Cognac offers a complex profile with notes of vanilla, apricot, jasmine, and chocolate. This well-aged spirit, with some eaux-de-vie up to 30 years old, truly shines when sipped neat, allowing its layers of flavor, including hints of pear, caramelized sugar, and dark chocolate, to unfold. It also brings considerable depth to spirit-forward cocktails like a classic Sazerac or Sidecar.

Expect an inviting aroma of pastry, honey, and jasmine. The palate is rich with notes of dried apricot, vanilla, and warming spices like cinnamon and ginger, all culminating in a long, satisfying finish of soft oak and a hint of orange peel.