Barge 166, the world’s first floating cellar
Have you heard about our Barge 166? This classic 1948 Freycinet barge from Paris — hand-restored based on architectural designs by Alexandre Gabriel — has been home to the world’s first floating cellar since 2021! A unique Parisian getaway, our barge was specifically designed and equipped — including brand-new custom barrel racks — to hold 1,500 30-liter barrels filled with our finest Ferrand cognacs and Planteray rums below deck.
This exceptional venue is devoted to the Private Barrel program, giving you the chance to own a rum or cognac barrel customized with your very own name. On board, you can select your preferred barrel toast or char level — choosing from the staves our team provides — and in doing so create distinctly different flavor profiles in your spirit. You also decide how long it will age on the barge, anywhere from six months to two years. During that period, you’ll regularly receive samples — unless you’d rather come aboard to taste it in person. When you decide your custom spirit has reached its ideal maturity and flavor, we’ll bottle it in personalized bottles and carefully deliver them to the address of your choice.
Barrel owners can also enjoy unique experiences on our barge throughout the year. What better setting than this charming Parisian barge to host an intimate tasting for a small group or a private evening event? Our award-winning spirits pair beautifully with personalized gourmet dinners and invite you to discover new flavors, with the help of talented mixologists. A once in a lifetime experince you won’t forget!
Over 800 barrels have already been stored in our floating cellar by individuals and companies. People from all walks of life have fallen for the irresistible charm of our Barge 166. For example, Mia Mottley, the Prime Minister of Barbados, has her own personalized barrel, while Nina Métayer — awarded the title of Best Pastry Chef in the world — visited us to choose the Planteray rum she used in her "galette des rois" this year.
An extraordinary place for experimentation
Barge 166 also serves as a true testing ground for Maison Ferrand, pushing the limits by aging rums and cognacs both on the water and beneath the Seine’s surface. Every spirit in this floating cellar benefits from a technique known as dynamic aging, which shapes its aromatic profile and whose tangible effects are studied by our Research and Creation team, dedicated to continuously refining our methods.
“Our floating cellar on the Seine, designed to store barrels below water level, is an innovative environment for maturing great cognacs and rums, and will enable us to further develop our experiments.” – Alexandre Gabriel, founder of Maison Ferrand
To understand this centuries-old technique, we look back to the era of long sea voyages, when the rocking motion of the waves intensified the spirits’ aromas in the barrels as they interacted more closely with the wood. To replicate these conditions, a specially designed jack by Alexandre Gabriel — powered by a solar-panel motor — creates rolling motions at night. Meanwhile, the barge’s natural humidity, the temperature variations inside the cellar, and the smaller size of our barrels all enhance the rich aromas of our cognacs and rums, as well as a perfect melding of tannins. It’s an experience that’s just as fascinating as it is delicious. We look forward to welcoming you aboard and inviting you to join the Barge 166 adventure!
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