Distillerie des Moisans

In Sireuil, in the Charente valley, the Distillerie des Moisans has been keeping a family tradition linked to viticulture and Cognac alive for several generations. The estate covers 90 hectares, including 60 hectares of vineyards in the Fins Bois and Petite Champagne regions, near Angoulême.

The house combines vine-growing, distillation, ageing and blending. Today, it offers a range of spirits, from Cognac to gins and rums, whilst retaining Cognac as the heart of its identity.

History and origins

The Moisans’ story began in the 1960s with Roland Bru, founder of the Distillerie des Moisans, who acquired his first vineyards at that time. He was part of a family history already linked to the world of Cognac through his father-in-law, Georges Guimard, who came from a family in Angoulême.

Today, the company is run by Véronique Legaret and her son Roland, alongside Olivier Petit. Family succession thus remains at the heart of the business.

The estate is situated in the hamlet of Les Moisans, where the cellars, distillery, offices and the Maison de Maître, used in particular to welcome visitors, are all located side by side.

Expertise

La Distillerie des Moisans oversees the entire process, from the press to bottling.

The distillery has 12 copper stills. The wines undergo double distillation: after two successive runs, only the ‘heart’ of the second distillation, known as the ‘bonne chauffe’, is retained for making the Cognac.

Ageing is another essential stage. The cellars house more than 1,300 350-litre casks, as well as around fifty large Limousin oak barrels. The cellar master then fine-tunes the distillation methods, ageing processes and blending of the various eaux-de-vie to create the distinctive style of Moisans Cognacs.

The ranges

• Moisans Cognac. The range is named directly after the estate. It includes, in particular, VS, VSOP, Napoléon, XO and Extra Cognacs, as well as organically produced varieties.
• DEAU Cognac. This collection brings together Cognacs positioned in the category of exceptional spirits, notably including XO, Extra and Hors d’Age cuvées.
• Cognac Roland Bru. This range pays tribute to the house’s founder and offers several ageing categories, from VS to XO and Extra.
• The Mixologist spirits. The house is also developing a range dedicated to the world of cocktails, notably featuring Ginetic gins, Canoubier rums and other spirits.

The flagship product

Moisans Cognac is the product that most directly expresses the link between the estate, its vineyard and its expertise.

The vines are planted in Fins Bois and Petite Champagne, two crus within the Cognac appellation. The main grape variety is Ugni Blanc, used to produce the wines intended for distillation.

To explore the range, a comparative tasting offers a particular opportunity to appreciate how the eaux-de-vie evolve according to their age and ageing. Cognac can be enjoyed neat, slightly chilled or used in cocktails.

The visitor experience

The Distillerie des Moisans welcomes visitors to discover the various stages of its craftsmanship.

The tour includes:

• a tour of the cellars;
• a tour of the distillery, nicknamed ‘the Cathedral’;
• the Maison de Maître, which has been converted into an exhibition space and shop;
• a tasting of three Cognacs.

The tour offers a wonderful opportunity to gain a practical understanding of how the vineyard, distillation and ageing come together to create Cognac.

Where can you find the products?

The distillery has an on-site shop at the Domaine des Moisans in Sireuil. The products are also available to buy online from the distillery.

Key points

Just a few kilometres from Angoulême, the Distillerie des Moisans offers a genuine gateway into the world of Cognac: a vineyard, a distillery, ageing cellars and a family-run estate where visitors can discover Charente’s expertise right at the source of production.

Excessive alcohol consumption is harmful to your health. Please drink in moderation.