An emblematic distillery of the South-West settles in Gironde

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Owned by Laurent Abba for 15 years, the château Le Bosquet des Fleurs, in La Réole (Gironde) is diversifying with the arrival of the Benoit-Serres distillery in the cellars.

“I bought a name and a story and I come with a big challenge,” comments the person concerned.

A hell of a story even, since that of the Benoit-Serres distillery began in the Lot, in Salviac, precisely in 1841. It built its notoriety with walnut waterlater with violet liqueur. Passing through Toulouse, it continues its trajectory to Villefranche-du-Lauragais, where the 5^e generation of distillers handed it over to Laurent Abba.

“Last challenge” for Laurent Abba

After two years of talks, Laurent Abba decided, at the end of 2022, to acquire the Benoit-Serres distillery. “All it took was a sign!” » When his mother, in Toulouse, comes out of the closet, before his eyes, bottles of violet liqueurLaurent sees this as a sign and decides to sign the acquisition. “I am originally from Montalban. I had to buy this distillery. One last challenge! »

The stills, the bottles, the recipes… The entire distillery arrives in Gironde.

An investment of 2 million euros

With an investment of 2 million euros (purchase and modernization) Laurent Abba, self-taught in the field, launched, as he did 15 years ago with the acquisition of the vineyard, in the modernization of the distillery.

A cellar is dedicated to receive four stillsa boutique in which liqueurs rub shoulders with bottles of wine and above all the hiring of staff. Four full-time jobs including Clément, a chemical engineer, and three young people doing work-study apprenticeships in the field of commerce help Laurent in this fabulous project.

“The distillery must be a dynamic, an opportunity for tourism. » If his catalog already has around thirty references, Laurent Abba has plenty of recipes running through his head.

I spend my nights researching. I am curious, I imagine new 'magic potions', an artisanal product and if possible from local production, we must improve in quality

The philosophy of Laurent Abba, passionate autodidact

Aromatic herbs, wine, elderflowers and pears inspire it, like Toulouse violet and Menton lemon, mint, cognac… “You have to adapt liqueurs to age groups “, he emphasizes.

With the Pondaurat strawberry, “Opora” was born and “Clovis” comes from elderflowers, two new liqueurs sold in new generation bottles. We understand it well, the Réolese distillery wants occupy places of honor in the field of spirits.

“I am self-taught, I listen and think about everything: recipes, packaging, marketing, public relations, tasting evenings….” On all fronts, passion wins.

The distillery and vineyard boutique is open to individuals, wine merchants and restaurateurs. Benoit-Serres Distillery, at Château le Bosquet des Fleurs, 7 Saint-Aignan Nord, in La Réole.

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