Distillery
Merlet & Fils
French producer of eaux-de-vie and liqueurs, Merlet & Fils is a family-owned company active in the Cognac region since 1850, known for producing cognac, fruit liqueurs and for offering distillation and bottling services for third parties.
- Saint-Sauvant · Nouvelle-Aquitaine (Charente-Maritime) · France
- Since 1850
- 2 products
The story
The Merlet family has been present in the Charentais area since the mid-19th century; the first distillation activity dates back to 1850. In the following decades the distillery supplied eaux-de-vie to major Cognac houses. In the 1970s Gilles Merlet diversified the business by introducing cassis cultivation and a range of creams and liqueurs. In 2001 the company created the liqueur Hpnotiq and invested in bottling facilities; Pierre and Luc Merlet joined the company in the 2000s. In 2010 Merlet launched a range of own-brand cognacs and continued to expand its chais and production capacity in subsequent years.
Production philosophy
A family-focused approach centered on quality, innovation and cross-disciplinary craft: Merlet combines local viticultural heritage with industrial capabilities and services for international partners, while maintaining attention to the territory and experimentation across its spirit and liqueur ranges.
Territory
Saint-Sauvant and Chérac (Charente-Maritime), historic area of Cognac production and the Saintonge, France.
Production method
Production based on distillation in copper stills, blending of eaux-de-vie and ageing in company-owned chais; the company also performs contract production and bottling and develops fruit-based liqueur ranges.
Distillation
Distillation in copper stills (traditional method for the production of eaux-de-vie), followed by blending of the different eaux-de-vie.
Ageing
Ageing in company chais inside wooden casks/barriques; the company has invested in new chais for maturation.
Characteristics
- Type
- Distillery
- City
- Saint-Sauvant
- Categories
- cognac
- fruit liqueurs
- eaux-de-vie supplier for third parties
- contract bottling
- Maison / family-owned spirits company
- Raw materials
- grapes (for the production of eau-de-vie destined for cognac)
- fruit (e.g. blackcurrant for creams/liqueurs)
- Casks and ageing vessels
- oak wooden casks/barriques
- Representative products
- Cognac Merlet V.S. 70cl
- Cognac Merlet V.S.O.P. 70cl
What makes it distinctive
- Family business active since 1850 with a long-standing presence in the production of eaux-de-vie for major houses.
- Successful diversification into fruit liqueurs and creations such as the liqueur Hpnotiq (launched in 2001, in-house production and bottling).
- Performs production, blending and bottling also for external partners/clients.
- Developed and launched an own-brand cognac range starting in 2010 and expanded its chais in 2014 and 2021.