Actor Idris Elba has worked with French spirits major Maison Ferrand to launch a Cognac brand under his wine and Champagne business Porte Noire.
The launch of Porte Noire Cognac marks the first time Maison Ferrand, home to brands including Ferrand Cognac, has developed a Cognac brand for another business.
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Porte Noire Cognac is being rolled out this month in the UK at an RRP starting from £79.99 ($102.48).
It will be available in specialist retailers including Harvey Nichols, Amathus Wines and The Whisky Exchange. It will also be sold at the Porte Noire bricks-and-mortar shop in London and through its website.
The product is then expected to head to “selected states” in the US – one of the world’s two largest markets for Cognac, alongside China – starting in “early 2025”, the group confirmed to Just Drinks.
In a statement, Alexandre Gabriel, the owner of Maison Ferrand, said: “As owner and master blender of Maison Ferrand, I have always looked for great sources of inspiration to make unique Cognacs and meeting Idris was one of those moments.
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By GlobalData“We spent time together and realised all that we had in common, like our desire to create delicious products from responsible agriculture.
“Together we wanted to create a one-of-a-kind Cognac. I’m looking forward to this beautiful partnership, making the great Cognac that we dream of together”.
Elba and David Farber, the former managing director of Monopole Wine Group, set up Porte Noire in 2020 as a Champagne, wine and hospitality business.
The company’s range includes the Porte Noire Champagne and Porte Noire Petite Porte NV Champagne, made from grapes in the Sanger school vineyards in France’s Côte des Blancs region.
It also produces a Porte Noire Rosé, made using grapes from the Fayard family vineyards in Provence.
“Cognac is something I’ve always appreciated for its complexity and richness,” Elba said. “I wanted to create something that felt like an extension of what we’ve already done with Porte Noire, something luxurious but approachable.”
Faber added: “This Cognac is a natural extension of what we’ve always aimed to do with Porte Noire – bring something authentic, high-quality, and exciting to the table. It’s not just a drink; it’s an experience, and we’re thrilled to share it with the world.”
Last month, fresh data out of the US underlined the ongoing pressure seen on Cognac sales in the country.
According to the National Alcohol Beverage Control Association, combined sales of brandy and Cognac volumes fell 11.4% in September year-on-year to 181,373 nine-litre cases. In value terms, sales dropped 15.8% at $52.9m.
