Welcome to day 8 after a banger yesterday lets try something a bit experimental. Todays whisky is from France and althouth they dont have an amazing track record they do also make some super tasty stuff see Day 23 — Michel Couvreur Intravagan’za from 3 years back witch was just so dam good. So as to not colour your perceptions lets crack today’s open and see what we got
Whisky
Country: France
Age: NAS
ABV: 46%
Story
In Brittany, cousin to Ireland and Scotland, where the Celtic soul continues to thrive, whisky has found a coastal heathland environment perfect for ageing under the best possible conditions. The sea, wind and rain have forged its character that is second to none. Two copper stills for a traditional double distillation, an ageing cellar enabling different types of casks to thoroughly mature the products and a cellar master passionate about obtaining the right aromatic balance are all elements that make Armorik Whiskies great.
Located in Lannion, Brittany, the distillery Warenghem has been making high quality liqueurs and spirits for over 100 years. In 1900, Leon Warenghem created his first product, the Elixir d’Armorique, a distillate of 35 plants, which won awards at international exhibitions in 1902. Since then, from one generation to the next, the distillery has created a small range of unusual fruit and plant based liqueurs, honey liqueurs, apple brandy, beers and whiskies. 25 years ago, Warenghem was the first and only distillery to ever produce double distilled whisky in France and today it remains the most renowned.
Inheriting a century-old craftsmanship, the character of the Warenghem distillery is forged by the expertise and passion of the men and women who have transmitted their know-how from year to year. Alcohol and spirit production is thus raised to an art form.
History
The Warenghem family has been living here in Lannion since the end of the 19th century. Léon Warenghem founded the distillery in the city centre. It soon became renowned for a spirit flavoured with 35 herbs, the “Elixir d’Armorique”, which is still being produced today. This herbal Liqueur is nowadays rounded off with Whisky beside honey. Various fruit brandies and Liqueurs were soon added to the broad range of Warenghem Distillery, which was taken over by the son, Henri, in 1919.
In 1967 Yves Leizour became shareholder and manager of the Warenghem family company, which belonged to Paul-Henri in the third generation. The distillery relocated to the outskirts and expanded its range continuously.
In 1983 the son of Yves Leizour, Gilles Leizour, a trained chemist, took over management of the family company. He’s credited for developing Chouchen Melmor, the famous Breton mead aquavit.
With the development of the first Breton Whisky Gilles entered unchartered territory. He got his knowledge and inspiration from travels to Scottish colleagues. In 1987 the first Blended Whisky was released; in 1988 the first Armorik Single Malt Whisky followed. After its success in France, Warenghem Distillery started international distribution in 2010 and is now a successful actor on the international Whisky scene. David Roussier is now the executive officer of the Warenghem Company, which is still family-owned with Gilles Leizour at the head.
Warenghem contributed decisively to the development and establishment of the protected designation of origin ‘Whisky Breton’.
Storage
The new make is diluted to 63% abv before it is filled into the casks. Warenghem uses Bourbon and Sherry casks, but also fresh casks made from French oak from the forests of Cranou and Brocéliande. With Jean Baptiste Le Floc’h in Douarnenez, there’s only one cooper left in Brittany. The forests are protected so you need to cooperate closely with Office National des Forêts (ONF) if you want to use this wood.
The angels’ share, the yearly loss through evaporation, is 3.5% in Lannion. That’s a bit higher than in Scotland due to the slightly milder climate, and the Whisky matures a bit faster.
Tasting Notes
Nose: hints of brine, salt, peat, grass, and sea spray.
Taste: peat, honeysuckle, lemon, camphor, grapes, and rhubarb
Finish: Medium length, gently drying, medicinal note, lingering clove spice.