November 3, 2026 (Buxeuil) — In Buxeuil, in the Aube region, the five stills of the Moutard 1892 Distillery are being lit once more. The season opens with the Fine Champenoise, where tradition, craftsmanship and passion meet.
A RARE INSTRUMENT
The distillery, the alembic arm of the Moutard Champagne House, is home to five Charentais pot stills, all fired directly by gas flame. Two first-pass stills, with a working capacity of six hectolitres each, serve as wash stills. Three second-pass stills (of three and four hectolitres) work in the manner of Scottish spirit stills. This double distillation, in the old style, is carried out with the house’s artisanal precision.
A CIRCULAR APPROACH, UNIQUE IN CHAMPAGNE
Artisanal, eco-conscious and family-run since 1892, the Moutard House is the only Champagne house to master the entire cycle: the work begins in the vineyard and ends in the distillery, and all the compost then returns to the estate’s own vines, preparing the ground for the next growing season.
A few exceptional spirits
Rye 6 Years Old, Cask Strength: a rye whisky bottled without reduction or cold filtration, aged six years in casks that once held Ratafia Champenois made from Pinot Noir, the Moutard signature (Diamond Medal, French Drinks Awards 2026).
Très Vieux Marc Champenois 6 Cépages, Cask Strength: crafted from the pomace of the rare Cuvée des 6 Cépages (Pinot Noir, Pinot Blanc, Pinot Meunier, Chardonnay, Petit Meslier and Arbane), the historic grape varieties of Champagne. Each variety is distilled separately between mid-November and mid-February, with a careful selection of the heart of the run during the second distillation. The blend then ages for more than ten years in oak casks. A limited-edition spirit, made for lovers of the rare.
THE DISTILLERY LUNCHES
During the campaign, the Moutard family welcomes a handful of guests to its traditional lunches, cooked directly in the still. The team shares them in the heart of the 1892 distillery, where the whisky, the fine and the Champagne marcs are currently being made. It is a convivial and privileged moment, open to journalists by invitation.
About Famille Moutard
For four generations, the Moutard family, who also own the Moutard Champagne House and vineyards in Burgundy, have pursued excellence with an artisanal vision and a deep respect for the environment. They are also specialists in the little-known grape varieties of Champagne.
http://www.famillemoutard.com
