Lunar New Year signals the Year of the Rabbit on January 22, 2023, which means celebrations will soon kick off in countries including China, Korea, and Vietnam. Naturally, those celebrations will include drinks, and while traditional spirits like baijiu and soju will make an appearance in their home countries and elsewhere, now there’s a new cognac to drink.
Alexandre Gabriel and Maison Ferrand have just introduced the limited edition Ferrand Cognac 10 Générations Port Cask Year of the Rabbit. Created to celebrate the 2023 Chinese New Year (or Lunar New Year), the double-matured cognac also pays tribute to 10 generations of the Ferrand cognac legacy.
The 10 Générations Port Cask Year of the Rabbit is a Grande Champagne cognac made from a single variety of grape—ugni blanc—and double-distilled in copper pot stills with medium lees. The presence of lees (yeast particles leftover from fermentation) is meant to create richer aromas and a rounder palate, and adds complexity to the floral and fruity base of the grapes.
The cognac is then double aged, first in French oak casks and then in port wine casks, which contribute notes of vanilla, honey, and cinnamon to the final product. The spirit is bottled at 88 proof, a nod to the number eight, which is considered lucky in China.
Ferrand Cognac 10 Générations Port Cask Year of the Rabbit Tasting Notes
Nose: It starts with a pastry profile of vanilla, caramel, almond, apricot, coconut, and caramel, evolving to rose, orange blossom, and nutmeg.
Palate: Rich, round and full, the palate follows the nose with a creamy texture reminiscent of white chocolate with baked pear, vanilla, roasted chestnuts, honey, and cinnamon.
Finish: Very long and creamy, with notes of figs, plums, bergamot, nutmeg, licorice, and vanilla.
Pour yourself a glass and call it a day. But if you’d like to make a cocktail, the brand suggests a Port Flip with cognac, port wine, a whole egg, powdered sugar, and a dusting of nutmeg.
Ferrand Cognac 10 Générations Port Cask Year of the Rabbit is bottled at 44% alcohol by volume (88 proof) and carries a suggested retail price of $64.99. It’s available in select markets, as only 12,000 bottles of this limited-edition cognac were produced.
