Pierre Ferrand Cognac Renegade Barrel #3

Renegade Barrel #3 is a daring hybrid spirit—part Cognac origin, part Caribbean rum echo—offering bold tropical fruit, oak spice, and dark roast intrigue. It’s adventurous, somewhat polarizing, and compelling for those who enjoy boundary-pushing expressions.

Origins & Craftsmanship

The Renegade series from Maison Ferrand is a “finished in rum barrel” line: classic Cognac (or eau-de-vie de vin) aged traditionally then finished in rum casks to imbue rum-inflected character.
Barrel #3 begins as a Grande Champagne Cognac (or eau-de-vie of cognac origin) distilled in 2011, then aged in French oak for approximately nine years. Afterward, it is finished for about one year in ex-Jamaican rum barrels (Plantation / Long Pond provenance).
Because of the rum barrel finishing, it's technically not eligible to be called “Cognac” under strict AOC rules; Ferrand refers to it as an eau-de-vie de vin / finished spirit.
Maison Ferrand (founded mid-20th century under the leadership of Alexandre Gabriel) is known for experimental cask finishes and creative blending. Their Renegade line revisits an older practice where barrels returning from the Caribbean were reused for brandies.

Tasting Profile

Nose: Tropical and expressive: orange peel, guava, cape gooseberry, with pastry hints of almond croissant, vanilla, and honeysuckle floral lift. Underpinning that is a faint rum funk, char, and aged oak.
Palate: Intense and smoky-leaning—dark chocolate, heavy charred oak, roasted coffee beans, black pepper. Beneath that are fruity echoes (peach, quince, tangerine), warm spice (nutmeg, cinnamon) and a growing richness.
Finish: Long and sultry: lemongrass, licorice, peppery oak, a touch of coffee bitterness, and a cool minty edge that lingers on the back palate.

Quick Overview