Le Whisky des Français
Whisky
Cognac, France
A whisky made entirely in France, using eco-friendly methods
Created by
Two young distillers from the Berry region
Alexandre
Nicolas
The Origin Story
Setting the ground rules
When creating Le Whisky des Français, young entrepreneurs Alexandre and Nicolas had a few goals in mind. Firstly, they wanted this to be a uniquely French product. Next, it was important that it was sustainably made, with everything sourced locally. Finally, this was to be a group project that would allow them to work with networks of small, local producers to create superior, personable products that exemplified the Le Whisky des Français community. This would be a whisky for everybody.
Country first
Alex and Nico love their country, and the world it inhabits, very much. Therefore, a main priority for them was that everything that went into Le Whisky des Français was locally sourced and that the process be as ecologically friendly as possible. Rather than looking for backing from large corporations, they crowdfunded to raise money for the initial distillation and planted trees in their region on behalf of all of the people who contributed to their project.
The taste of France
Le Whisky des Français is a single malt whisky, aged for three years in both cognac and bourbon barrels, along with a period in new oak barrels, and a final stage resting in barrels used to store Sauternes wine. This elaborate ageing process gives it a complex, well-balanced flavour palate with interesting, original and unmistakably French tones. The soft, sweet white wine notes from the Sauternes-infused wood add a depth and harmony to the spicy malts of the whisky.
The secret sauce
Projects for the future
Alex and Nico have only just begun.
Knowing that the French are very attached to their individual regions, their project is to continue producing small batches of Le Whisky des Français, replacing the Sauternes barrels with barrels that have stored wine from different regions. Their innovative adoption of the “growler” system – popular in the craft beer world – where they provide kegs of whisky to suppliers that clients can tap off into refillable bottles, follows their eco-conscious outlook whilst also providing a hands-on, personal experience to everyone who drinks their whiskies.
The sweet smell of success
At some point, Alex and Nico want to get themselves some land to plant French oak trees on, which might be used by future generations who want to distill their own whisky. For now however, they already have quite a bit on their plate. Whilst Le Whisky des Français only launched recently, the interest and stellar reputation it has already gained amongst those in the know is extraordinary. Even with their mounting success, their goal remains the same: to create beautifully crafted spirits, without ever losing sight of the importance of taking care of the planet and the country that they love.