the essential
A farmer in Les Albres, Lilian Fréchet has also been a traveling distiller for 35 years. He currently distills at the foot of Puy de Wolf in Firmi, with his still which became a hundred years old this year.
Under the November frost, a plume of water vapor rises from the foot of Puy de Wolf in Firmi. This is not a sign of volcanic activity, but an indication of a still running at full speed.
Lilian Fréchet gets busy, turning a valve here, keeping an eye on the alcoholometers immersed in the transparent liquid which he tastes at a certain moment to accentuate the control: “We must take out the brandy at the requested degree by customers, according to their tastes. Some prefer when it is strong, others when it is less strong.
Traveling distiller for 35 years
A farmer in Les Albres, Lilian Fréchet is also a traveling distiller in western Aveyron, in Firmi, Montbazens and Lanuéjouls. For 35 years, he has been distilling their fermented fruits for others for several weeks, in order to extract the alcohol and obtain eau-de-vie.
DDM – BHSP
Precise gestures, under the eyes of friends who came to greet him including Netcha, restaurateur in Laroque-Bouillac, to whom Lilian tells many anecdotes.
His still, which he acquired from his former boss who passed on his know-how to him, has just celebrated 100 candles this year: “Initially, it ran on wood and coal, then on fuel oil. I modernized to run on electricity.
The profession of traveling distiller is gradually being lost: there are only a dozen distillers left in the department.
This year, the distillation period in Aveyron has been set from October 1, 2024 to April 30, 2025. Everyone, farmer or not, can bring their fruit.
Raymond, 85, retired farmer from the Lot valley, came to bring his plums. “It depends on the years. We brought the check (grape marc, residue of pressed grapes), then used as fertilizer.
“Fewer and fewer customers”
DDM – BHSP
Lilian Fréchet, who has installed her still in Firmi since the beginning of November and until next Saturday, confirms the trend: “Fewer and fewer people are bringing fruit, It's mainly older people, People are drinking less eau-de-de -life, it is essentially for making liqueurs, ratafia, walnut, peach, dandelion wines. There is a big use for making liqueurs.
This year's weather did not favor the fruit growers either: “There was frost, rain, diseases. There is almost nothing. Grape marc, plums. But I didn't have anything. haven't seen any apples yet.
DDM – BHSP
At 56, Lilian Fréchet intends to continue her activity: “This year, there is little to do, it will be done quickly. There are fewer and fewer customers but as long as we have work, I will continue…”.
After Firmi, Lilian Fréchet will go to Montbazens. Contact: 06 70 37 87 55.
