Commitment to quality
Meet LUÉ
The evolution of family-owned distillerie Merlet & Fils – trade eaux-de-vie supplier, world famous liqueurs producer, renowed distiller and own label extraordinaire – is unlike any other distillery in the cognac industry. We took a tour with fifth generation family member, Luc Merlet.
“We are quite a diverse company,” outlines Luc Merlet, as we wander around one of the company’s warehouses. His father, giles, founded the Merlet brand with the launch of his world-renowned fruit liqueur range in 1983, in response to the cognac grape glut of the sixties and seventies – but the family has been distilling eaux-de-vie since 1850.
Two brothers (Pierre and Luc) started distilling their own harvest, and then they started distilling for others as well, says Merlet. “From the 20th century we started being exclusive to Hennessy, Martell and Otard”. We diversified our activity in the seventies, making wine and grape juice.
Things have changed markedly since then. The distillery has relocated from the Quaint Chateau in Saint Sauvant, which overlooks the family’s vineyards (the Chateau Luc, his brother, Pierre, and their father grew up in), to a larger site a few miles down the road. The entire operation, from wine production to ageing to vineyards to cellars, is spread across multiple locations.
Commitment to quality
LUÉ AWARDS
2019 Double Gold – San Francisco World Spirits Competition for VSOP Cognac
Top 10 Best Selling Cognac and Liqueur Brands in the World’s for VSOP Cognac
50 Best Bars by Drinks International for VSOP Cognac