Distilleries et Domaines de Provence

For over 100 years, Distilleries et Domaines de Provence have been making Provençal liqueurs and aperitifs in Forcalquier in the Haute Provence region. The area of Forcalquier is recognized as a "Site Remarquable du Goût" (Site of Exceptional Taste).

Established in 1898, Distilleries et Domaines de Provence has inherited a tradition that goes back several millennia: collecting medicinal plants on Lure mountain, known for its wealth and abundance of plant species.

As far back as the Middle Ages, gatherers of medicinal herbs distilled the carefully-gathered medicinal plants and became peddlers. During the 17th and 18th centuries, these peddlers set themselves up as pharmacists or apothecaries trading in many of the towns in the region.

In the 19th century, some became pharmacists, others distillers, with a few becoming both at once. The specialties they made from the Lure plants were often drinks or beverages with cleansing, tonic, digestive, aperitif or refreshing qualities. Wine and alcohol, maceration and distillation, were all used to draw out and preserve the plants' aromas and active substances. It was not until the end of the century that distillers began to specialize in the production of liqueurs and aperitifs.

Today, Distilleries et Domaines de Provence has kept this expertise alive for more than 100 years and shared it with the rest of the world, much to the delight of spirit lovers everywhere.

Distilleries et Domaines de Provence marry traditional recipes with modern manufacturing processes. Most of our products are made by the maceration and distillation of carefully selected fruits and plants, both of which are traditional techniques. These techniques produce infusions (maceration) and spirits (distillation). Distilleries et Domaines de Provence has made its mark through its wide range of quality liqueurs: the excellent Henri Bardouin Pastis, the traditional qualities of the Absente range, particularly the audacious Crème d’absente, and its traditional liqueurs and cocktail liqueurs. Distilleries et Domaines de Provence has cleverly adapted old wine-based recipes to bring you a large range of wine-based aperitifs made from the alcoholic fermentation of grapes from the Provence region.