A Travelogue Through Cognac with Daniel and Christine Cooney of Heavenly Spirits
This past summer, Daniel and Christine Cooney, co-owners of Heavenly Spirits, designed a trip around one of their favorite spirits: Cognac.
By Daniel Cooney
This is a spirit close to their hearts, as Christine, who was born in the Cognac region of France, spent summers at her grandparent’s farm north of La Rochelle, where she watched her grandfather, Amedee Foubert, run his winery and distill eau de vie from plums and other fruit grown on the farm. Dan came to love the Cognac region himself, living there for five years with his young family before returning to the States. More recently, Dan and Christine purchased a property in the heart of the Grande Champagne, lovingly referred to as “Le Cot,” a former Cognac vineyard compound which they are turning into an educational retreat.
Cognac Travelogue by Daniel Cooney: With unique perspectives provided by Macaulay Minton.
Edouard Normandin and Macaulay Minton at Cognac Normandin-Mercier
Day 1: Immersion in Cognac
We were joined on our exploration of some of the leading craft Cognac producers by a special guest, Macaulay Minton, founder of Dark Arts Whiskey House in Lexington, Kentucky. His presence allowed us to share deeper insight to this historic spirit, by contrasting it with the perspective of a modern American craft whisky producer. What ensued was a one-of-a-kind cultural and professional exchange.
Day 2: Barrels & Terroir
Christophe Fillioux and Macaulay Minton tasting through expressions of Jean Fillioux Cognac
Our first stop was Cognac Jean Fillioux, located in the heart of the prestigious Grande Champagne region—just a short drive from Le Cot, our Retreat Center. There, Christophe Fillioux walked us through a fascinating demonstration showing how six different barrels, made by six different coopers, can subtly alter and affect taste differences in the same batch of Cognac eau-de-vie. A masterclass in wood, craftsmanship, and aging, this experience set the tone for the week ahead.
An American whisky maker’s perspective:
“Driving through the Cognac region and passing by all the vineyards instills a profound admiration for the craft of distillation, and an appreciation for the sacrifices of generations who have nurtured the land and cultivated the finest grapes for brandy production. The meticulous details of distillation and aging that go into the process, and the deep connection to the art of production is precisely why I fell in love with the region while visiting”
That afternoon, we visited the Musée du Savoir-Faire du Cognac, situated along the Charente River in the historic heart of the city. This well-curated museum explores the full history of Cognac—from its economic roots to its emergence as the world’s most revered brandy.
An American whisky maker’s perspective:
“From my observations, Cognac faces an array of formidable obstacles: shifting consumer demand and tastes, the impacts of global warming, stringent government regulations, and overarching issues such as geopolitics and tariffs that loom large over the region. It’s disappointing to see how so much hard work and dedication to the craft can be undermined … as it is my opinion that spirits have some of the most potential to connect people on a common ground.”
Day 3: The Art of the Barrel & Terroir
Gauthier Allary explaining barrel toasting at Tonnellerie Allary
On Wednesday, we headed to the village of Archiac to visit the family-owned Tonnellerie Allary cooperage. Meeting with several members of the Allary family, we learned about the history and intricate craft of barrel-making, including the sourcing and seasoning of the wood, and charring of the barrels, a vital (yet often underappreciated) element of spirit production.
Next on our journey, we visited Distillerie du Peyrat, a leading producer of organic Cognac based in the Fine Bois cru. Antoine Rault and his brother Guillaume RAULT now manage this fifth-generation Cognac production house. We were warmly welcomed by Antoine and his father, Jean-François Rault. The two spoke about terroir, and organic practices, as they shared their ongoing innovations and explorations in sustainable Cognac production.
The perspective of an American Whisky maker:
“Distillerie du Peyrat stood out for its willingness to push boundaries beyond what traditional methods most Cognac producers follow. The vineyards are certified organic, and Antoine employs what he terms “fatty distillation” in his cuts, as well as distilling lees wine for more unique distillates.”
Day 4: Tasting by the Sea
Thursday took us to Christine Cooney’s hometown, the charming port city of La Rochelle, where we were hosted by NORMANDIN – MERCIER, another of our Cognac partners. After a full cellar tour and tasting session, we were treated to an unforgettable lunch featuring trout carpaccio, fresh oysters, roasted chicken with potatoes, and a homemade honey cake for dessert. Edouard Normandin and his sister AUDREY N. now represent the fifth generation of the family to run this highly regarded and innovative Cognac house.
An American whisky maker’s perspective:
“A recurring theme I observed among the makers was the delicate balance of honoring the historical methods of production, maturation, and blending established by previous generations while also finding ways to infuse their unique perspectives into the evolving narrative and spirit of the houses they represent.”
Day 5: Botanical Spirits and Historical Roots
Alexandre Gabriel of Citadelle Gin
In a slight foray from the world of Cognac, we ended the work week with a Friday afternoon visit to the Citadelle Gin distillery, one of France’s pioneering craft gin producers, for a behind-the-scenes tour led by the owner himself, Alexandre Gabriel. The expansive estate is an impressively restored property, historically connected with the famed Maison Ferrand Cognac family. It features a gift shop, an orangery, a forest of juniper trees, and an extraordinary collection of stills. The site is open to the public for scheduled tours and is also available to rent for weddings and other private events.
About Heavenly Spirits
Dan Cooney, Christophe Fillioux, Christine Cooney, and Macaulay Minton at Cognac Jean Fillioux
At Heavenly Spirits, we believe in the value of cross-cultural exchanges that celebrate craftsmanship, heritage, and innovation. Based in Massachusetts, we’re proud to be the leading importer and distributor of authentic craft spirits—responsible for bringing over 40% of all Armagnac into the U.S. each year. We also import a wide range of organic Cognac, organic French whisky, and are the Massachusetts distributor of Dark Arts Whiskey.
This visit was a spirited success—and just the beginning of what we hope will be many more collaborations between American spirit enthusiasts and French spirit artisans.
The post A Travelogue Through Cognac with Daniel and Christine Cooney of Heavenly Spirits appeared first on Chilled Magazine.