Lehmann
Whisky, Eau-de-vie
Alsace, France
The oldest artisanal distillery in the Alsace region of France
Created by
The Lehmann Family
Yves Lehmann
The Origin Story
A story of generations
The Lehmann distillery was established in 1850 in Obernai, France, close to the German border in the region of Alsace. The man who started it all was Joseph Lehmann, the great-great-grandfather of the current owner, Yves Lehmann. As the Lehmanns passed down their knowledge through the generations, each new owner combined their own ideas with the techniques they had learned from their father. This lineage of expertise has culminated in a distillery of unrivalled excellence.
Recognized Expertise
As a master distiller, Yves Lehmann knows that the art of distillation requires patience, precision, and a true passion for the craft. It cannot be improvised, and must be learned slowly and carefully over time. His distillery has been recognized for its expertise with the label EPV, which in English means “Living Heritage Company.” This recognition is bestowed on businesses with exceptional traditional and industrial know-how by the French Minister of Economy and Finance.
Branching out into new territories
For a long time, the Lehmann Distillery only produced sweet, highly alcoholic fruit liqueurs called eaux-de-vie. Recognized nationally and internationally for the quality of the Lehmann distillates, Yves Lehmann began applying his technical knowledge elsewhere. In 2000, Lehmann produced its first ever whisky: “Elsass Whisky.” Nowadays they boast a range of top-quality whiskies which jostle with their famed eaux-de-vie for top spot in the hearts of their customers.
The secret sauce
Whiskies made in France
To create his whiskies, Yves turned to a local brewer to provide him with top quality malt. After twice distilling his whisky in Charentes-style copper stills, he then ages them in wooden casks for 8 years. These wooden casks are the same ones that are used to age Sauternes wine - a sweet white wine from the Bordeaux region of France. This aging process helps soften and mellow the whisky, giving it extra depth and complexity.
An alchemy between tradition and modernity
The Lehmann Distillery’s luxury spirits are the result of generations of refined expertise. Led by Yves, their commitment to the future is to continue to innovate while protecting and perpetuating family traditions. As his whisky line grows in popularity, Yves has the freedom to experiment and come up with new beautifully-crafted spirits that fit the public’s demand.