Alexandre Gabriel

Alexandre Gabriel

Decoration

Maison Ferrand, France & West Indies Rum Distillery | Owner & Master Blender

Alexandre Gabriel serves as the custodian of Ferrand Cognac and is the influential creator of Citadelle Gin, Planteray Rum, Stade’s Rum, and Canerock Spiced Rum.

 

Born into a farming family in southern Burgundy, France, Alexandre was taught by his grandfather to cultivate vines, make wine, and, most importantly, distill spirits. His passion for spirits continued to grow throughout his young adult life. In 1989, Alexandre discovered the ancient and storied Ferrand Cognac House. He stepped in and, through his vision, transformed this modest Cognac House into Maison Ferrand, one of the industry’s leading specialists in artisanal spirits. While long only a cognac producing house, under Alexandre’s creative spirit, Maison Ferrand has grown into an award-winning portfolio featuring some of the most sought-after drink brands worldwide: Ferrand Cognac, a 100% Grande Champagne Cognac; Citadelle Gin, the original French artisanal gin founded in 1996 that initiated the wave of craft gins globally; and Planteray Rum, renowned for distilling and sourcing rums from some of the world’s finest and most delicious terroirs.

Alexandre fulfilled his dream of having his own rum distillery in the birthplace of rum with the acquisition of The West Indies Rum Distillery (WIRD) in Barbados . Here he resurrected the beloved Stade’s Rum of Barbados. Through WIRD, Alexandre also became a key shareholder in National Rums of Jamaica (NRJ), owners of the famed Clarendon and Long Pond Distilleries.

In 2017, Alexandre was honored to receive the prestigious “Outstanding Contribution to Distilling” Award from the American Institute of Distilling. It marked the first time the award had been presented to an individual. Since then, more accolades have come his way, including being named the Top Rum CEO in 2023 by the Ultimate Awards & The Rum Lab. Gin Magazine also welcomed Alexandre to the Gin Hall of Fame. Over the years, Maison Ferrand’s portfolio of fine spirits has garnered more than 1,000 awards, confirming their quality and reputation within the spirits industry. In 2024 Planteray rum was awarded best rum brand of the year by Spirit business.

 

Alexandre’s curiosity and passion for creating fine spirits is boundless. He dedicates countless hours to researching historical documents to rediscover lost arts of production, distillation, and maturation. To support the Ferrand Foundation, which he founded to protect the heritage of Cognac and Rum, Alexandre has co-authored two books on Cognac History. He just finished a book about Rum and Navy Rum with Matt Pietrek. Alexandre’s inquisitiveness, research, energy, and collaborative nature continually inspire new products.

 

In 2021, Alexandre created the world’s first floating Rum and Cognac cellar on a beautiful barge, moored on the River Seine, just steps away from the Eiffel Tower. On this floating ‘maturation warehouse’ he studies how dynamic aging affects a spirit.