History

Grandes Distilleries Peureux is a historic, family-owned company in Fougerolles with more than 160 years of experience in fruit eaux-de-vie and further development in fruit-based spirit products. The company is known for its technical approach and its focus on quality through an ultramodern laboratory, where no production starts without approval. The four brands, including Distillerie Massenez and Distillerie LeMercier Frères, have played a crucial role in building an international brand universe that includes griottines, liqueurs and other traditional products. In addition to production and export, the Accueil Vélo label (cycle-friendly) is mentioned, pointing to an experiential approach to the visitor experience. The company is noted for innovation, growth and internationalization, and they operate with a significant export share (over 60%) and annual turnover of over €25 million. They produce around 300,000 cases of fruit-based eaux-de-vie annually and nearly 1 million bottles of Griottines®.

Production / Manufacturing

The production is centered around the fruit as the only raw material. The master distiller works directly in the fruit orchards, selecting the best fruits as the primary raw material. The fruit fermentation takes place in large tanks or wooden casks, where natural yeast strains are used, and the fermentation lasts about ten days before the next stage. After fermentation, the fruit wines are distilled in copper stills developed and built internally by the company, enabling large quantities of fruit-based eaux-de-vie and thus a consistent quality and flavor profile. The aging gives the eaux-de-vie structure and smoothness, and the length of aging depends on the fruit type and the master distiller's know-how. The production facilities include modern test laboratories, a receiving hall that can handle up to 40 tons of fruit at a time and a storage capacity of around 400,000 hL of eaux-de-vie. Automated packaging lines enable rapid production of eaux-de-vie, liqueurs and Griottines®.

Products / Whisky series

• WHISKY GDP PURE MALT – €35.15 (70 cl) – Pure Malt, fruit-based whisky with maturation in bourbon casks; one of the GDP line's first products.
• WHISKY GDP SINGLE MALT 8 YEARS – €65.10 (70 cl) – Single Malt aged 8 years; maturation in Vin Jaune / Savagnin cask.
• WHISKY GDP SINGLE MALT 12 YEARS – €80.10 (70 cl) – Single Malt aged 12 years; Vin Jaune / Vin de Paille cask aging.
• WHISKY GDP SINGLE MALT 17 YEARS – €180.25 (70 cl) – Single Malt aged 17 years; exclusive, selected from a single cask.
• WHISKY LA PLANCHE DES BELLES FILLES – €35.15 (70 cl) – Single Malt made from beer-barley from Franche-Comté and aged in a unique dialogue between eau-de-vie and liqueur cask, fruity and fresh.
• WHISKY LOUIS BLANZEY – €26.90 (100 cl) – Whisky produced in Scotland with a fine, racing profile; for cocktails and enjoyment.
• (Supplementary products such as GDP Pure Malt and other GDP variants are also shown under the Whisky section on the same page.)

Notes: The GDP editions excel by being Malt Whisky category with a focus on unique cask combinations and fruit-based characteristics. The products vary in age and cask, but they share the common starting point in Grandes Distilleries Peureux's fruit-based distillation history and focus on quality and innovation.

Visits / Experiences

The company operates with a strong technical and quality focus through an ultramodern laboratory and large production facilities. The Accueil Vélo label indicates openness to visitors and cycle-friendly surroundings, suggesting a positive visitor experience and insight into the production and the origins of the products. The technical description of the production (fruit as the only raw material, large-scale fermentation, copper stills, and long aging) also provides a picture of how guests could gain insight into the process.

Philosophy

• The fruit is the only raw material: The Master Distiller develops and selects the best fruits as the essential raw material, and the entire process centers around the fruit and its terroir.
• Fermentation and distillation: The fruit ferments naturally under the control of masters and the complexity of the yeasts; copper stills in-house enable high throughput for the entire production.
• Maturation and balance: Crucial to achieving the right balance of aroma and structure; maturation depends on the fruit type, the distiller's specialist competence and the traditions of Grandes Distilleries Peureux.
• Innovation and internationalization: The company emphasizes innovation, expansion and export of its products, which is reflected in its history of exports to the USA, Switzerland, Germany, Austria and Asia as well as the emphasis on innovation in its business model.

How we perceive the company

• A more than 160-year-old, family-run company with a focus on fruit-based spirits and external growth.
• A heavy investment in laboratories and quality control, ensuring consistency and ongoing development of new products.
• A strong export orientation and a portfolio consisting of both whisky and fruit-based liqueurs as well as iconic products such as Griottines® and Golden Eight®.}