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Grandes Distilleries Peureux is the world's leading producer of fruit eaux-de-vie and the world leader in the maceration of fruit (including 3,000 tonnes of morello cherries). The company sells the equivalent of 300,000 crates of fruit eaux-de-vie per year (or almost 4 million 70 cl bottles) with in particular, the La Cigogne brand of eaux-de-vie. It produces almost one million jars of Griottines (wild morello cherries macerated in liqueur and Kirsch) and offers a range of traditional liqueurs. It generated over 23 million Euros in turnover, 60% of which was accounted for by exports. At the present time, Mister Bernard BAUD is chairman of Grandes Distilleries Peureux.

Auguste Peureux founded his Distillery in 1864 in Fougerolles, at the foot of the Vosges, in a magnificent valley on Triassic terrain. The Distilleries specialised in the production of fruit eaux-de-vie, including the famous Kirsch, which rapidly gained a considerable reputation under the brand name La Cigogne®. The homeland of Kirsch and fruit eau-de-vie, the town of Fougerolles benefits from virtually pure water, free of mineral salts, exceptional for the adjustment and quality of eaux-de-vie, and demonstrates solid know-how. Its Kirsch cherry orchards (gean, obtained by grafting wild cherry trees) are renowned the world over.

Grandes Distilleries Peureux, from the outset, was intent on preserving and codifying the great Franc-Comtois traditions of eaux-de-vie preparation (Kirsch, Pear, Quetsch plum, etc.) and liqueur making (blackcurrant, cherry, etc.), perpetuating its know-how. On the other hand, the company is committed to researching and formulating new products. In 1980, Claude PEUREUX and Pierre BAUD launched wild Morello cherries macerated in a light Kirsch syrup : GRIOTTINES®, a speciality product which rapidly achieved a worldwide reputation on the tables of starred restaurants, with patissiers and confectioners and in high quality grocers. In 2003, Griottines® are being launched on the national market through all distribution channels.

In 2005, Grandes Distilleries Peureux presents three Griottines® Liqueurs in 70 cl bottles with a very modern and seductive design. The range of modern liqueurs includes 3 flavors :

• Griottines® Original, liqueur of world-famous Griottines, the recipe of which is jealously guarded,
• Griottines® Tea, elegant and “trendy”, with subtle, 100% natural aromas,
• Griottines® Cola, more specifically aimed at young adults.

It’s also during the same year that PERFECT 1864® is launched : an ultra premium vodka, 100% made in France. In 2007, Grandes Distilleries Peureux launches FRAMBOISINES®, delicious small raspberries steeped in liqueur and raspberry eau de vie, 100% natural, with no added colourings or preservatives, in professional packagings (3 l pail and 1 litre Pet).

A first-class industrial plant

Grandes Distilleries Peureux has a first-class industrial plant, with high-tech laboratories that check raw materials and monitor quality, a new fruit reception shed capable of sending 40 tonnes of fruit for fermentation in a few minutes, and the capacity to store 400,000 hl of eau-de-vie.

Its ability to distil complete batches under the best conditions guarantees consistent quality and flavour. Its automated packing lines allow for the high-speed production of small and large packaging units of eaux-de-vie, liqueurs and Griottines®.

Tested raw materials

Grandes Distilleries Peureux annually uses some 10.000 tonnes of carefully selected fruit. In common with the rest of the sector, it is subject to climatic fluctuations and this average figure, depending on the caprices of nature, may be either divided of multiplied by 2.

FRUIT QUALITY ASSURANCE IS GIVEN HIGH PRIORITY IN THE COMPANY’S OVERALL QUALITY POLICY.

With Griottines®, the company’s commitment is at a very deep level, as it is involved in monitoring the wild Morello cherries from flowering through to the ripening of the fruits and their harvest.

Griottines, one of the products which are distributed by Imports of France, are a unique recipe of wild Morello cherries in liqueur and Kirsch. The firmness of the fruit is taken into account when determining the quality. These cherries have a very specific taste and appearance. The cherries are graded based on their size and the ones with diameters from 14 to 20 mm are retained.

Maceration process must begin within six hours of picking to conserve the flavour and physical characteristics of the fruit. The process is carried out by immersing the Morello cherries in barrels of liqueur for the natural osmosis. The Morello cherries are sorted and graded again and only those with a diameter of 18-20 mm are selected.

After the crucial stoning stage, the Morello cherries are steeped in different liqueurs for successive macerations so that the fruit soaks up new flavours. The last maceration provides the final touch of Kirsch which is the hallmark of Griottines. The fruits and their liqueurs, now 15 degree proof, can be readied for packaging.

On the occasion of Sirest Ideas 2008, Grandes Distilleries Peureux, the world’s leading distiller of fruit brandies and producter of Griottines(R), launches Framboisines®.

100% natural, with no added colourings or preservatives, FRAMBOISINES® are delicious small raspberries steeped in liqueur and raspberry eau-de-vie.

FRAMBOISINES® offers you all the rich aroma of the raspberries, the firm texture of these delightful little berries with their brilliant colour and highly-perfumed flavour, subtly enhanced and intensified by successive macerations.

FRAMBOISINES®, a perfect match with everything: digestifs, cocktails and all culinary whims (to decorate your preparations, your ices, entremets, pâtisseries, viennoiseries).

Founded in 1864, Grandes Distilleries Peureux is the world’s leading producer of fruit eaux-de-vie and the world leader in fruits in liqueur. Based in Fougerolles in Franche-Comté, Grandes Distilleries Peureux are known worldwide, through its 2 brands : Griottines® (unique recipe of wild morello cherries in liqueur and Kirsch) and La Cigogne® (several ranges of fruits brandies).

In 2005, "Grandes Distilleries Peureux" joined with "Brie Champagne Distilleries" to produce Perfect 1864. The production of this vodka is the result of an original sharing of know-how between the farmers, the millers of Brie Champagne, whose traditions of quality go back to the Middle Ages, and the distillers.

The fermented wheat wort is distilled and filtered locally by "Brie Champagne Distilleries", the only French distillery specialising exclusively in the distilling of wheat. Maturing, blending, the addition of Vosges water, then filtering and bottling are done by "Grandes Distilleries Peureux" in Fougerolles, Franche-Comté, by master distillers who have inherited the great French tradition of the production and blending of the most delicate of fruit brandies. Finally, to launch this vodka in the United States, "Grandes Distilleries Peureux" has entered into a partnership with Legacy Imports, a company specialising in the distribution of upmarket spirits.

The quality of a great vodka depends to a great extent on the raw materials used, their origin, the method of distilling and, above all, on the know-how of the distiller. An "ultra premium vodka", Perfect 1864 is made in accordance with the most demanding French standards for the great spirits. Perfect 1864 is made exclusively from "froment", a soft bread wheat grown on the rich plains of Brie-Champagne. The grain is crushed, fermented and distilled multiple times locally according to an exclusive process. The clear spirit is then matured by the Master Distillers who are heirs to age old traditions. This spirit undergoes only a very light filtering due to its extreme purity while preserving its natural character.

It is then enriched with the legendary Vosges water, drawn from springs in the depths of the Ballons des Vosges natural preserve. Perfect 1864 is filled in a sleek, contemporary bottle bearing the crest of a fleur de lis. All under the eyes of the “Master Distillers”. Perfect 1864 is the smoothest vodka on earth and the highest quality vodka ever produced