History of French Whisky: From Its Origins to Today | By Michellot

History of French Whisky: From the Origins to the Rise of Artisanal Production

French whisky, often seen as an outsider compared to the Scottish and Irish giants, has been experiencing a veritable renaissance since the 2000s. However, its roots go back further than you might think. Here's a journey to the heart of the history of French whisky .

The unknown beginnings: whisky before its time

As early as the 19th century, some French houses, particularly in Charente, owned stills and experimented with grain distillation. But whisky, as we know it today, remained an imported product. France was above all a major consumer: it became the world's leading whisky market at the beginning of the 20th century.

The first French whisky distillery: Warenghem (1987)

Located in Brittany, the Warenghem distillery (creator of the Armorik brand) was the first to seriously launch into the production of French whisky in the 1980s. It developed local expertise, using pure water and ocean maturation.

The explosion of micro-distilleries (2000 - 2020)

With the growing interest in local, organic and artisanal products, many distilleries are appearing all over France:

  • Rozelieures (Lorraine)

  • Naguelann (Brittany)

  • Vilanova (Tarn)

  • Hepp (Alsace)

  • Moon Harbour (Bordeaux)

  • And more than 120 distilleries now active in whisky production in France!

What characterizes French whisky today?

  • Terroir : each region has its own climate, soils and traditions.

  • French barrels : old wine barrels, cognac, sauternes, pineau...

  • Variety of cereals : barley, buckwheat, corn, rye.

  • Know-how inspired by cognac and armagnac .

Official recognition: the PGI "Whisky de France"

Since 2015, the name "Whisky de France" has been recognized at European level as a protected geographical indication (PGI) . This means that the essential stages (fermentation, distillation, aging) must take place in France.

The future of French whisky

  • Growing international demand

  • More and more old vintages

  • Innovative collaborations (e.g. whisky aged in Calvados or Vin Jaune barrels)

  • And soon... a vintage signed De Michellot , which will also tell a page of this story.

To go further:

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