Distillery de l'Ort: Gin from Périgord Noir

In Montignac, just 3 kilometers north of the Lascaux Caves, an artisanal, aromatic and very pure spirit is distilled: Gin from the Distillerie de l'Ort. A family project carried out with passion and great ecological values, it is the fruit of long years of training and reflection. Nolwenn and Loïs, brother and sister, knew how to bottle all the character and the powerful sweetness of this pretty corner of Périgord Noir. It is certain that our cave artist ancestors would have appreciated it, and you? You have to come and taste it to be convinced!

Photos Guide of Périgord and Distillerie de l'Ort (when specified)

>>> Alcohol abuse is dangerous for your health, consume in moderation <<<

Watch a video of France 3 Nouvelle Aquitaine on the Distillerie de l'Ort, in french

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Combine talent, know-how and family

Lois and Nolween, who are of course of Breton origin, have taken over the family farm. They used to come here on vacation in their childhood and today, the workshop adjoining their family home exudes fresh and lemony, herbaceous and intoxicating scents, when the superb artisanal still is in operation. Loïs trained in the subtle art of distillation with the Scots (and they know what it is…). He worked for several years with artisans, then became a team manager. He enjoys developing recipes and knows how essential knowledge and harmony between the distiller and his still are. He has seen English gin (also known as London Dry Gin, to differentiate it from genever, Dutch gin) and its notoriety evolve over the past decade. In British countries it is one of the most popular alcohols mixed with tonic.

Gin, although it has always been known and consumed in France as well, is now very popular just like whiskey or our other regional French spirits. Nolwenn, who has focused his studies on agricultural practices and ecological transition, is at the heart of the ingredients and equipment of Distillerie de l'Ort. It is she who brings the spirit and the good ecological ideas to this family project (see below).

When Lois and Nolween realize that for almost 10 years, their family farm in Montignac has lost its agricultural vocation, they come up with this somewhat crazy but promising idea of reviving it through this gin. Bet won! The Distillerie de l'Ort now produces an artisanal gin of good quality: flavored with finesse but a palette of flavors very present, balanced, refreshing, and above all evolving. Did you know that gin does not have the same flavor depending on the season?

An artisanal gin, which has everything of a great

The main and essential material for distilling is a still. That of the Distillerie de l'Ort (which is called Félicie, because a still is always baptized, which is to say all the importance and the personality that it gives to the elixir produced) was made by a local copper maker, whose workshop is located in Saint-Amand-de-Coly, Mr. Lagorsse. It is tailor-made! Stills are not all the same, it is not enough to choose a model from a catalog. Lois, a master distiller, knew exactly what he needed and he knew how to “ adjust ” it with finesse (that is to say, adjust the heating temperature and the condenser flow) so that the distillation revealed the best aromas.

A gin, to have this designation, must titrate at least 37.5 degrees. A neutral alcohol is used (based on alcohol from cereals or root vegetables such as potatoes or beets), which is then flavored with plants, herbs and spices. The juniper berry must be the dominant flavor, the taste and smell characteristic of the gin. These elements can be macerated or infused in alcohol and then the distillation is carried out in the still.

Distillation is not complicated, I understood everything while listening to Lois' explanations! Alcohol boils at 78.4 degrees, and water at about 100 degrees. To distill, the still must be heated to about 82 degrees, the alcohol contained in the first tank of the still changes phase, it becomes vapor . But the water has not yet started this change, so it stays in the tank, while the alcohol evaporates! The vapors pass through the cap, then through a condenser in the form of a coil of pipes coiled in a tank filled with water. Alcohol comes out of the tap in liquid form, perfectly pure and as it is a good solvent, it has taken with it the extraordinary aromas of the plants it has infused.

   

An ecological and ethical project

Making gin is good, but doing it with conviction is even better. Nolwenn comes into play when it comes to limiting energy resources and producing herbs locally and organically.

Félicie is the first still in France that runs on solar electricity. Photovoltaic panels are present on the roof of the farm and a hot water tank system connected to the still makes the process as ecological as possible.

As you can see, to cool the distillate, that is to say the alcohol vapors and bring them down in temperature to return to the liquid phase, water is needed in large quantities. La Distillerie de l'Ort recycles the spring water used for this purpose, it is in a closed circuit, on its passage it allows to heat the citrus greenhouse. It's a winter garden for herbs!

The aromatics and herbs are grown on site, in a 100% organic way. The family farm has resumed its vocation and Nolwenn and Loïs do not stop there, since their project and ambition to produce cereals on 5000m2, to perhaps one day be able to distill the neutral alcohol which is the ingredient base of their gin.

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Discover the Gin from the Distillerie de l'Ort

Have we aroused your curiosity and titillated your connoisseur taste buds? To taste the gin from the Distillerie de l'Ort , it's easy:

• You will easily find it in Montignac, Périgueux, Sarlat, at all the good wine merchants in the region. Consult the list of points of sale on the Distillerie de l'Ort website (in fr).
  
  
• You can order from the online store (in fr). There are bottles of course, but also discovery boxes with quality tonic and several products to come soon.

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