This is the story of Loïc, wine merchant, and Jean-Yves, œnologist, both passionate about spirits and who decided to combine their knowledge to create a business centred on their shared passion: whisky. Their goal was to demonstrate that a French whisky anchored in its native territory can be worthy of merit.
Les Chineurs de Malt
The project began back in 2020, when the duo selected an organic variety of barley and collaborated with the Isle-sur-la-Sorgue agricultural school to carry out planting trials, aiming for a local production of 15 tonnes of grain (50% of necessary production, supplemented by production in Drôme and Ardèche regions). Their approach to this endeavour was inspired by wine-growing methods, favouring a long fermentation process in small containers to encourage the development of complex aromas.
Visit the distillery
The focal point of the process is the restored copper still, direct from Cognac, equipped with a unique dome essential for creating the aromatic notes of a great whisky. The eau-de-vie is then aged in old wine, cognac, or bourbon barrels, each 50 to 100 years old, that make all the difference in the production of French whiskies.
Our Chineurs are yet to uncover all the possibilities of whisky and have plenty of other projects on the go, but their first single malt whiskies are already on sale. Take a trip to their store, near Isle-sur-la-Sorgue, opened in November 2024, and visit the distillery. I’m sure you’ll be convinced that Provence is more than pastis!
Practical information
Les Chineurs de Malt
84250 Le Thor – proche l’Isle-sur-la-Sorgue
Shop open from Monday to Saturday
10h-12h – 15h30-18h
Visit the distillery
Monday to Friday, 11:15am and 2 pm
Discovery of the manufacturing process and tasting
Lasts1h15
€12/ pers.
Press contact:
Loïc Puviland and Jean-Yves Pomaret
contact@leschineursdemalt.com
T. +33 (0)4 32 70 16 97
©Yannick Libourel, Valerie Gillet, Magali Ripert