Deux Familles Madeira Cask is a French Cognac given a finishing turn in casks that once held sweet Madeira, a thoughtful flourish that makes it an enveloping, dessert-like digestif to end the evening at Grappa.
About the Producer
Deux Familles, the name a nod to the two families behind it, is a boutique, independently labeled Cognac producer working in small batches rather than at industrial scale. It is a relatively under-the-radar name, so we describe it by character rather than reputation: a maker focused on expressive, cask-driven releases, drawing its eaux-de-vie from the Fins Bois and Bons Bois growing areas of the Cognac region in southwest France.
Style & Production
The base is a traditional Cognac, twice distilled from white wine in copper pot stills and aged in French oak. What sets this bottling apart is the finishing stage: the matured Cognac is transferred into French oak casks that previously held sweet Madeira, the fortified wine of the Portuguese island. That secondary maturation layers in dried-fruit sweetness, toasted oak and a gentle warmth, giving the spirit an individual, small-batch personality beyond a standard age-class release.
Tasting Notes
The nose opens with dried apricot, fig, toasted almond and vanilla. On the palate it is smooth and well balanced, with caramelised citrus, honeyed oak and a whisper of warming spice. The finish is long and velvety, trailing raisin, dark chocolate and nutmeg, the Madeira influence lending a rounded, confected depth.
What to Pair It With
Its dried-fruit sweetness loves dessert. Try it with Mama’s Tiramisu, whose coffee and cream meet the cask’s caramel notes, or with our Flourless Chocolate Cake for a deep, decadent close. A Charcuterie Board also plays well, the nutty, fruited tones bridging savoury and sweet. Browse the full dine-in menu.
How It’s Served at Grappa
We pour Deux Familles Madeira Cask neat as a digestif, in a tulip glass to draw out its aromatics, at $23.
FAQ
Where is it from?
It is a Cognac from the Cognac region of southwest France, drawing on the Fins Bois and Bons Bois areas, then finished in casks that once held sweet Madeira.
What does it taste like?
Smooth and lightly sweet, with dried apricot, fig, toasted almond, caramelised citrus and honeyed oak, finishing on raisin, dark chocolate and nutmeg.
What does the Madeira cask add?
Finishing the matured Cognac in former Madeira casks layers in dried-fruit sweetness, toasted oak and a velvety, dessert-like depth.
To enjoy it with us, book a table, the cocktail & spirits list, and the dine-in menu.
