The Ferrand Foundation: preserving the soul of cognac and rum

Nestled in Segonzac, the Ferrand Foundation works to safeguard both tangible and intangible heritage, much of it at risk: the craft, knowledge, and traditions behind great spirits. Its purpose is clear: to preserve the past in order to inspire the future.

Where the memory of spirits begins

Behind the quiet walls of a 19th-century manor house in the heart of Grande Champagne, something essential is taking shape. This historic home, the birthplace of the Ferrand family, now houses the Ferrand Foundation, a nonprofit organization founded by Alexandre Gabriel and Maison Ferrand with a clear mission: to preserve, study, and transmit the tangible and intangible heritage of cognac and rum.

Here, the focus is on skills, stories, and age-old techniques, often passed down orally and sometimes forgotten, buried deep in archives.

“We never create in a vacuum. We always create within a culture, a body of knowledge, a legacy,” explains Alexandre Gabriel.

Living knowledge, between past and future

The Ferrand Foundation grew out of a core conviction: to create exceptional spirits, one must first deeply understand those that came before. This work requires rigor, dedication, and patience.

Through the foundation’s efforts, its first book was published, tracing the history of Elie Ferrand VIII. Elie Ferrand VIII: The Life and Times of an Enlightened Cognac Farmer is the result of several years of research, archival study, and conversations with Henriette Ranson-Ferrand, often called Mademoiselle, the last descendant of ten generations of Elie Ferrand.

The book reveals his mission to preserve cognac traditions and knowledge in the pursuit of the finest eau-de-vie, as well as his commitment to sharing this expertise in France and beyond.

The second book, History of the Grande Champagne of Cognac, uncovers valuable discoveries drawn from archives and firsthand accounts. A detailed study of this terroir and its chalky limestone soils, it offers a rich and nuanced account of the region’s history.

In the world of rum, one of the foundation’s most remarkable stories is that of Michael Fogg, a rum expert who entrusted his research to Matt Pietrek shortly before his death. Without this encounter, a unique body of knowledge would have disappeared. This legacy inspired years of research by Alexandre Gabriel and Matt Pietrek, ultimately reviving the techniques of Royal Navy Rum. Four years later, this work culminated in both a rum and a book whose complexity would have been impossible without this foundational research.

The book breaks down the DNA of this distinctive rum style into seven key pillars: sourcing rums from former British colonies, blending them, and reducing them to a precise strength; double aging, first in the tropics and then in London; and dynamic maturation at sea.

From manuscripts to barrels

The foundation does more than unearth the past. It explores, tests, and challenges assumptions. Wood types, dynamic aging, cask entry proof, the evolution of traditions from 1619 to today: every detail matters. Spirits are living entities. They evolve, and they are passed down.

Today, Alexandre Gabriel is working on an ambitious project: a book dedicated to the art and techniques of the cellar master, drawing on thirty-six years of hands-on experience. The aim is to commit oral traditions to paper, both to protect them and to inspire those who will craft the spirits of tomorrow.

The transmission

The Manoir de Mademoiselle, carefully restored by Maison Ferrand and permanently open to professionals, also welcomes the public during Heritage Days, with plans to broaden access in the future. Through guided tours, visitors discover rare archives, antique objects, and the living history of cognac. This remarkable heritage is restored in-house by Ferrand teams, who are developing specialized skills in preservation. 

Beyond research, the foundation is deeply committed to sharing knowledge: publishing books, organizing courses, and engaging with both enthusiasts and professionals. Here, knowledge does not gather dust in display cases. It circulates, sparking curiosity and inspiring commitment.

By anchoring creativity in heritage, the Ferrand Foundation bridges past and future. It reminds us that a great spirit is born from skills learned, refined, and passed down. 

This is how the cognacs and rums of today, and those of tomorrow, can continue to move us and endure: rooted in history, craft, and expertise transmitted across generations. And this continuity, in every sense of the word, is what the Ferrand Foundation exists to protect.