We’re hearing a lot about the Seine during the Paris 2024 Olympics. This famous river is not just a beautiful landmark, but also the inspiration behind the fine spirits of La Distillerie de la Seine. This summer, they launched a new brand, 777, that is eco-responsible and refillable. Here is everything you need to know about this exciting release!
Menu
La Distillerie de la Seine
The 777 Brand
Tastings
Overall Thoughts
La Distillerie de la Seine
La Distillerie de la Seine opened its doors in Le Havre, Normandy, in 2021. Manuel Bouvier, the fourth generation distiller of the Bouvier family, created this distillery to share the story and spirit of the enchanting Seine River. They produce an array of spirits, including organic vodka, gin, pastis, bitters, liqueurs, and aged organic whisky.
The 777 Brand
“At Distillerie de la Seine, we believe in environmental and social responsibility. The 777 brand embodies our commitment to offering quality products while respecting the planet. Our refillable spirits enable our customers to enjoy their favourite beverages while helping to preserve our environment.” — Manuel Bouvier, founder
777 is an ode to the 777 km of the Seine River. Every part of the production takes place near the Seine, including the cooperage, glass-making, and printing. Water for their spirits comes from a source spring at the foot of the Plateau de Langres (in Champagne!) and is purified on-site at the distillery. The majority of the herbs, flowers, and fruit used come from the fertile lands bordering the Seine. Distilling happens in a state-of-the-art MÜLLER Aroma Pot Still. Everything is meticulously chosen to minimise environmental impact.
The new packaging in particular is 100% reusable, part of a vision to promote responsible consumption. Peel-off paper labels not only reduce plastic waste, but also make for easy up-cycling. Water jugs, vases, and candle holders are a few creative ideas for these bottles. It’s also fantastic to note that they are 100% refillable at the distillery and at carefully selected local partners who share their eco-responsible vision.
The bottle itself is also lighter, weighing just 565g per bottle, up to a -26.14% decrease in weight! This is a particularly big topic in the wine and spirits industries, as brands are looking to limit their carbon emissions linked to production and transportation.
Tastings
I had the opportunity to test five different products from La Distillerie de la Seine’s 777 Brand. These are my honest opinions about each.
Pastis Artisanal
Pastis is THE summer spirit here in France. While many people are familiar with big brand names, artisanal pastis is gaining popularity. Enjoyed between friends at the beach or poolside, it is served diluted with cold water and some ice.
My first impression is how much I absolutely love the aromas. Enticing aromas of fennel bulb, star anise, cloves, and cardamom hit the nose straight out of the bottle. Adding water brings out notes of liquorice.
The aromas carry on to the palate, particularly cardamom, liquorice, and other spices. It is sweeter than the pastis we normally drink, and this is incredibly enjoyable to drink. The flavours remind me of Icelandic cinnamon rolls that are made with liquorice — one of my favourite pastries. Overall, it is fresh and light and easy to drink. This is one of my favourites in the range and I highly recommend it!
Gin Végétal
Gin is another contender for top summer spirits in France. The 777 Gin Végétal is made from plants that grow wild along the Seine such as juniper, nettle, terragon, and mint.
Expect aromas that invoke a casual stroll along the seine, or a walk through a prairie. The nose is vegetal and herbal, slightly floral with soft spices and juniper. The mouth is surprisingly fatty, almost like a nice olive oil, and powerful. Fantastic flavours of lime zest, wild herbs, lemon grass, and a hint of mint. Overall very refreshing and will be part of my summer apéro rotation.
Pur Malt Antique
This limited edition bottle celebrates the site of the 2024 Olympic Games! For anyone as enthusiastic about the Olympics as I am, this is absolutely something to add to your collection. In fact, it is aged in barrels from the Saint-Germain-en-Laye forest, not far from the stadium in Nanterre. Yes, that includes THE world-famous pool where Léon Marchand, Summer McIntosh, and Katie Ledecky are breaking Olympic records!
Even though this is made like a whisky, it is aged slightly less in barrel than the legal 3 years requirement for whisky, hence why it is a pure malt.
A very yummy nose of poached pear with spices, vanilla, grilled almond pralines, brioche. The mouth is surprisingly mellow and soft, somewhat reminiscent of Japanese Whisky. The mouth is as gourmande as the nose with nice woody notes. It is very light in mouth and would appeal to both whisky afficionados and new drinkers!
Vodka Bio
This organic vodka is the fruit of triple distillation of organic French grapes from vineyards around the country. I think this is a particularly interesting use of grapes for a country known for its wines!
This vodka really surprised me, in a good way! The nose is earthy and vegetal and saline — think of walking through a forest full of lush plants by the sea. The mouth is unexpectedly fatty and round, reminding me of melted butter. It’s incredibly smooth and unlike any other vodka I have tried. I really enjoy the mouthfeel and think it would really add a wonderful complexity to vodka-based cocktails.
Liqueur de Café
This liqueur is a collaboration with Anne Caron, MOF coffee roaster 2023. Her expertise aided in selecting quality coffees from the Congo and Costa-Rica, as well as roasting and grinding the beans. The ground coffee is then infused in a beet alcohol base before being distilled. Sugar is added in the minimum required to be classified as a liqueur (100g/L). A huge coffee (and espresso martini) fan, I was very excited to try this one.
This more than blew away my expectations. It smells like real, freshly brewed coffee from your favourite barista; none of those artificial aromas that are used in many liqueurs. I got a hint of chocolate shavings too. I absolutely adore the mouth. It tastes just like an Éclair au café, complete with coffee pastry cream (one of my favourite French pastries)! Sweet and almost creamy, this is amazing on its own already but would also make an incredible espresso martini. Another one of my favourites from the range!
Overall Thoughts
Overall, I really love the 777 Spirits that I tasted. All of them are beautifully crafted and high quality, evoking memories of French living along the Seine. The Pastis Artisanal and Liqueur de Café in particular stood out to me.
I also appreciate the packaging. The bottles are genuinely pretty and artistic with ergonomic handles. I love their lightness, making them easier to handle, with lower environmental impact. The brand’s whole commitment to environmental and social responsibility speaks to me and I think it is commendable. I highly recommend Distillerie de la Seine’s 777 range to everyone from afficionados to those looking to explore the world of spirits!
Merci à la Distillerie de la Seine pour ces échantillons.