Ferrand Dry Curaçao Yuzu Late Harvest is a limited edition release by Maison Ferrand, introduced by Alexandre Gabriel to honor the 20th anniversary of Tales of the Cocktail, a non-profit organization dedicated to supporting the global hospitality community. This innovative version of the classic French orange Curaçao embodies Gabriel’s “anything is possible” mindset and was developed in consultation with spirits and cocktail historian David Wondrich. Ferrand Dry Curaçao Yuzu Late Harvest is crafted from the entire Yuzu, blended with brandy and Ferrand Cognac. This creation follows their 2012 revival of a 19th-century recipe, which led to the now-iconic Ferrand Dry Curaçao.
The Yuzu used in this product is sourced from L’Agrumiste, a biodiverse orchard in the Mediterranean, known for its 250 exotic fruit varieties. Typically harvested in the fall through hand-picking, the Yuzu for this Curaçao is left on the trees until late in the season, past their peak maturity, and harvested in February. This late harvest technique enhances the citrus’s flavors and aromas, resulting in concentrated pastry notes that blend harmoniously with the Ferrand Cognac base.
The Mediterranean climate, with mild winters and abundant summer sunshine, contributes to the exceptional flavor of the Yuzu. The orchards at L’Agrumiste boast a rich terroir with thousands of years of citrus cultivation history. The team employs traditional agricultural methods, such as hand weeding and maintaining untouched areas to promote biodiversity, and are working towards 100% organic certification.
To create Ferrand Dry Curaçao Yuzu Late Harvest, the whole Yuzu is macerated in grape spirit for one week, then slowly distilled in Ferrand alembic stills. This process resurrects the 19th-century technique of vegetal infusion, capturing the essence of the Yuzu. The final product is a blend of Yuzu distillate, Yuzu infusion, bourbon vanilla, brandy, and Ferrand Cognac, resulting in a unique and exquisite spirit.
