Valour+Lemaire: Offbeat Spirits!
- Published on October 27, 2023
- Antoine Gavory
Drinks. Since its founding almost four years ago in Tonnerre, Yonne, Valour+Lemaire has established itself as an innovative distillery.
“Arnaud Valor and Benjamin Lemaire are banking on prestigious and offbeat productions to establish themselves in an increasingly popular spirits market.” (Credit: JDP)
The story began during a tasting, bringing together Arnaud Valor and Benjamin Lemaire. Arnaud, after studies abroad and various experiences in communication and the defense of Chablis wines, already had in mind the project of creating a distillery. Benjamin, trained at the Paris National Opera , dreamed of a wine tourism agency. Their meeting gave birth to Valour+Lemaire.
Tailor-made distillates
Since 2020, the distillery, nestled in the heart of the Chablis vineyards, has sought above all to stand out: “Micro-distilleries are multiplying. So if we want to stand out from the crowd, we must be different on the products, on the containers, on the company brand. We could have been called Distillerie de Bourgogne, but customers would have expected Burgundy products. But we want to be able to use a Chinese spice if we feel like it,” explains Benjamin Lemaire.READ ALSOA two million euro head office
Winner of the Réseau Entreprendre Bourgogne in 2020 and 2021, Valour+Lemaire offers 12 high-end alcohol references, ranging from gins to whiskeys, including vodkas, rums, and liqueurs: “We try to be out of step, to do not imitate flagship products . Each spirit, distilled in an ultra-modern square stainless steel still, promises “No folklore, just taste” .
In addition to the launch of two new products - Origines Bio Rum made from Cuban molasses and Altaïs Brandy - Valour+Lemaire has just acquired a new 2,000 liter still.
Asian market
An acquisition intended to accommodate exemplary growth. In 2022, the company doubled its turnover to reach 200,000 euros. Within two years, despite a very competitive market, Benjamin Lemaire hopes to reach 400,000 euros, through direct sales distribution, to wine merchants and delicatessens: “We have a lot of requests for large-scale distribution, but we refuse for the moment. Working with large retailers is quite easy. They are straightforward people who know what they want. But we cannot distribute the same products to wine merchants and supermarkets unless we create a particular brand . ”
For now, Valour+Lemaire is continuing its expansion, from legendary bars in the capital like the Gatsby and even abroad: “Japan is very interested in distributing our chocolate liqueur. It’s a rare product . ”
https://journal-du-palais.fr/au-sommaire/entreprises/valour-lemaire-les-spiritueux-decales?fbclid=IwAR0bmaypi8zaU8ELmGHSR2S40zNBAHJ-0V_5g0qgJXlhH1zyl49x06xAFMk
