Fruits Liqueurs

Burgundy is not just famous for its wines but also for blackcurrant (cassis) which has been cultivated there for over four centuries. Since the famous crème de Cassis invention in 1841, the berry production has been developed. The nation’s distillers continue to produce some 16 million tons annually.
Associated with an aligoté white wine, another local speciality, Burgundy’s blackcurrant liqueur produces the famous kir aperitif. Its also used for many other recipes of cocktails.
Liqueur companies are also working with other local fruits like the Pêche de Vigne (peach from the vineyard) from the Burgundian slopes, Lloyd George Raspberries, Montmorency Sour Cherries, Chalonnaise Black Cherries or Monts du Lyonnais Soft Stone Apricot.
For Eaux-de-Vie, local companies buy local Williams pears from the orchards. And Marc and Fine de Bourgogne, the producers have supply from the best appellations in the Côte de Nuits and Côte de Beaune areas like Chambolle-Musigny, Gevrey-Chambertin, Vosne-Romanée or Pommard.

Cognac

Cognac is a type of brandy which comes from the Cognac region of France.
French law limits the use of the name to brandy made from the wine of specified grapes variety (mainly Ugni Blanc, Folle Blanche, or Colombard), distilled twice in special alembics, or pot stills, and aged for a prescribed period in Limousin oak.

• V.S. (Very Special) or ✯✯✯ (three stars) designates a blend in which the youngest brandy has been aged for at least two years in a cask.
• V.S.O.P. (Very Superior Old Pale) or Reserve designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is aged for at least four years in a cask.
• Napoléon designates a blend in which the youngest brandy is aged for at least six years.
• XO (Extra Old) The minimum age of the youngest brandy is 10 years.

Martinique

Martinique, a French Caribbean island, is mainly producing “Rhum Agricole”, which is obtained by distilling of sugar cane juice. This kind of rum is more aromatic. To produce 10 litres of rum roughly 100 kg of sugar cane needs to be processed.
In 1996, the Martinican Rhum Agricole obtained an AOC recognition, “Appellation d’Origine Contrôlée’’ and is the only one so far.

Like in Cognac or Armagnac, there are strict ageing conditions & appellations:
*“Rhum Blanc Agricole Martinique”: min. 8 weeks in steel tanks
*“Rhum Vieux Agricole”: min. 3 years in oak casks of mac 650L
*“Rhum Extra Vieux Agricole, XO”: min. 6 years in oak casks
All ageing & bottling must be done on the island.
No Additional Flavor & No Additional Sugar

Saint Lucia

Saint Lucia is a sovereign island country in the West indies, located north/northeast of the island of Saint-Vincent, northwest of Barbados and south of Martinique. It covers a land area of 617 km².
The French were the island’s first European settlers, thanks to a pirate named François Le Clerc, nicknamed “Jambe de Bois” because of his wooden leg.
England took control of the island from 1663 to 1667. In ensuing years, it was at war with France fourteen times, and the rule of the island changed frequently (it was ruled seven times each by the French and British). In 1814, the British took definitive control of the island.
Saint Lucia only became independent within the British Commonwealth in 1979.
The country is becoming more and more touristic. Two mountains, the Pitons, form the island’s most famous landmark on the western side of the island.