History

La Piautre brings together a malt house, a brewery, and a distillery in one place, where they control every phase of the artisanal production of their whiskies. As in the old days, the dried malting barley is spread on the floor to germinate, after which it is malted, brewed, and distilled in their two Charentais stills. Eau-de-vie is then aged in cellars, and over time it becomes whisky. Loire is their terroir.

Production / Manufacturing

La Piautre gives itself full control over the entire process—from malting to brewing to distilling—and produces their whiskies through craft and tradition. They malt barley on site and work with barrique casks and various finishes, which gives a very clear focus on terroir and cereals. They describe their approach as a project in which they master all steps, and where Loire plays a central role in the flavor and identity of the products.

Products / Whisky Series

Signature

Two emblematic whisky expressions that reflect the terroir and the cereal foundation of La Piautre.

Île de Baure

Single Malt – an assemblage of Chenin, Cognac and French new oak casks (4–6 years) – 44.5% vol. - Nose: fine and complex with notes of raisins, apple-cherry (quinces), vanilla and wood. - Palate: balanced and complex with dried fruits (apricot, walnut, raisins, fig), spices (cardamom) and sweetness (vanilla).

Port Saint Maur

Single Malt – Elevage of 40 months in French new oak casks – 44.5% vol. - Nose: notes of tobacco, dried fruit and vanilla; characteristic malt- and tropical-fruit-like elements. - Palate: big and balanced with smoky notes, licorice and spices (bold spice). A whisky with a strong personality.

Collection

Three aromatic explorations from the cellars, illustrated by the artist Antoine Djack, reflecting the creativity in each blend:

Séson

Single Malt – 3 years in French oak barrels – 41% vol. - Focus: terroir, first expression from a single vintage (2021). Different weather conditions affect the grain and the brew.

Empreinte

Single Malt – Elevage in a troglodyte cellar, followed by a finish in Chenin-finish – 42.5% vol. - Focus: especially troglodyte-aging environment and finish, which give characteristic pear notes and spices.

Récoltes

Single Malt – 7-year mix (2014–2021) of whiskies from 4 to 11 years, blended with Côteaux de l'Aubance and Layon, Cognac and new French casks – 44.5% vol. - Focus: complex and balanced with malted cereals, fruity notes and honey.

Trois Moissons

Single Malt – Peated, Cask Strength – 54.5% vol. - Blending of French oak casks and a four-month finish in peated whisky casks from the Shetland/Hebrides region. - Taste: intense peat, iodine notes, smoke and a spicy finish.

Finish variants

Finish Pineau des Charentes

Single Malt – 4-month finish in Pineau des Charentes casks (white) – 46% vol. - Nose: fruit, prunes, walnut and citrus; palate of pear and honey. - Palate: soft start, fruit, sweetness and vanilla; long, complex finish.

Finish Oloroso

Single Malt – aged in Cognac and Chenin-finish, finished 6 months in Oloroso casks – 47% vol. - Nose: nutty and dried fruits (prunes, figs) with light wood notes. - Palate: ripe fruits, Amarena cherries, almond.

Whisky triple malt

Single Malt – One single oak cask of French oak – 42.5% vol. - Three grains (wheat, barley and rye) – à la pâtisserie française, integrating pear, apple compote and vanilla with balanced sweetness.

Petits lots

Limited editions with special finishes or malt selections, often expressed through a single cask.

Eaux de vie

La Piautre also produces eaux de vie based on malted grains and organic drops, which can be enjoyed neat, on the rocks, or in cocktails.

Esprit Libre (eau de vie botanique)

46% vol. – Produced as in the old days from locally organic malted grains (wheat, barley and rye). A gin-inspired, note-rich spirit with a range of botanicals (gentian and nine botanicals) and a lemon curd-like profile.

Esprit Libre (eau de vie de bière)

49% vol. – A beer-based eau de vie with 12 months of aging in Coteaux de l’Aubance casks, with complex floral and fruity notes.

Eau de vie de malt

43% vol. – Floral and fruity notes; a trace of the grain’s sweetness in a round and smooth texture.

Branding and Labeling

• Label expressions include the collections Séson, Empreinte and Récoltes, and the artist Antoine Djack illustrates the bottle labels in the Trois Moissons collection.

Visits / Experiences

Visit the Factory

Visit to the factory, where the process from grain to glass is demonstrated. The visit includes a tasting of the products. - Dates: Every Saturday at 15:00. - Price: Free for people under 18. - For groups (10–30 people): Possibility for a guided tour on weekdays by appointment, depending on the team’s availability. - In January and February, there are slots for visits from a group of 8 people (contact for reservation). - Reservations close the day before; if there is space, they are happy to welcome last-minute visitors as well.

Philosophy

La Piautre focuses on the Loire terroir and a complete chain of controlled processes in one place—from malting to distillery—which yields whiskies with characteristic cereal and terroir notes. Emphasis is placed on tradition and craft, and the range spans from signature whiskies to small batches and limited editions, with ongoing development in the cellars and maturation, including troglodyte environments and special finishings.