The start of a tailor-made journey

Owning a barrel filled with your favorite spirit is a dream for many enthusiasts. Stored under ideal conditions, the spirit will evolve for months, even years, and you’ll have a front-row seat to every change.

That’s precisely what Maison Ferrand offers with its Private Barrel program. This year the program has expanded. Beyond the Barge 166, the world’s first floating warehouse, fans can now store their barrels at Chai Satgé in the heart of the Charente. And from this year along with Cognac and rum, gin is now part of the mix, resting exclusively in this cellar for six months.

You can choose the spirit that will be carefully stored in your barrel. Sample the spirits in person, either aboard the Barge 166 or at Chai Satgé, and choose the one that speaks to you. A wide range is available with rums from Fiji, Barbados, or Jamaica, premier-cru Grande Champagne Cognacs of various ages and maturation styles, and now gins. There is truly something for every palate. That first step is always exciting; it’s the moment future barrel owners form a personal connection with their barrel.

“It’s more than a purchase,” says Éric Bräck, the dedicated ambassador for Private Barrel. “We share the soul of the house and build lasting ties around a barrel we track like a personal project.”

The small size of the barrels intensifies interaction between spirit and wood for a stronger yet controlled impact. As a Barrel Keeper, you will witness this evolution firsthand, returning regularly to taste your spirit. Nothing is more thrilling than following its progress and noting the differences from one visit to the next.

A warehouse dedicated to the Private Barrel program

Why “Chai Satgé”? The name pays tribute to Luc Satgé, the house’s first assistant cellar master. When he retired two years ago, Alexandre Gabriel dedicated the warehouse to him as a gesture of gratitude. It’s a heartfelt nod to one of Maison Ferrand’s most important craftsmen.

Set on the Château de Bonbonnet estate, the warehouse is reserved exclusively for Private Barrel casks, each one tended with extraordinary care. Owners are invited back to follow their spirit’s progress, tasting the changes month after month and spending time with our team. Those visits are the heartbeat of the program.

Éric often leads members to Cognac for a backstage look at the warehouses, an experience you won’t find on a standard tour.

“The experience begins long before guests set foot inside,” he explains. “We curate every detail, thoughtful tastings, open conversations, one-off activities, to make each visit feel personal, whether you’re new to spirits or a veteran collector. What matters is that everyone feels represented, stays open to surprise, and walks away with more than just a memory.”

The Barge 166, a unique warehouse

Where Chai Satgé is calm and grounded, Barge 166 carries a constant sense of voyage. Peacefully moored in Issy-les-Moulineaux, this 1948 Freycinet barge restored by Maison Ferrand now houses 1,500 thirty-liter barrels of Cognac and rum.

On board, the barrels undergo dynamic ageing: this method heightens interaction between wood and spirit thanks to the vessel’s gentle motion. The atmosphere, with its very high humidity, enhances the roundness of these precious distillates.

Seeing the barge for the first time feels magical to prospective Barrel Keeper, it really is one-of-a-kind. That initial visit is a big part of the charm.

For barrel owners, the day usually begins with a tasting on board.

“It’s an important day,” Éric adds. “They taste what will become their own barrel, share lunch, maybe even start an impromptu pétanque match on the quay. Little moments like these shape our community.”

A personalized immersion

Every Private Barrel program is designed as a personalized journey.

Each journey is different: some begin aboard the Barge, others with a stay in the Charente.

Once there, the Maison Ferrand team opens doors that are normally closed to the public. The day often carries on around the table, lunch at La Courtine, dinner at the Château de Bonbonnet, and easy conversation between our team and the cask owners. Laughter, and sometimes a touch of sentiment, fills these gatherings, adding even more warmth to the experience.

“Our goal is to bring people together. We’re not after obsessive collectors, we want folks who enjoy life, enjoy people, and leave with a story to tell. That’s the Private Barrel spirit; that’s Maison Ferrand.”

The result is always unforgettable. It’s far more than a transaction, it’s a shared adventure filled with feeling and discovery.