Our Story
Grandmont Distillery
Grandmont Distillery was born from a rare conviction: that great French spirits should not only be invented, but also rediscovered.
When monks invented liqueurs
Before liqueurs as we know them today, there were medicinal elixirs. Their origin dates back to the early 12th century, when the first stills arrived in the West, brought back by the Crusaders.
It was then the monks, in the apothecaries of their monasteries, who began to prepare these plant-based concoctions—elixirs, bitters, medicinal liqueurs. At the heart of this tradition, the Grandmontine order shone from its Limousin hills, advocating a life of simplicity, precision, and contemplation.
Liqueurs, bitters, and elixirs were not pleasures then: they were remedies. They could be found in pharmacies as well as at liqueur merchants, until the mid-20th century.
Based in Haute-Vienne
Located in Haute-Vienne, the distillery draws its identity from a region shaped by history and artisanal expertise. Limoges was the capital of distilleries in the 19th century, due to the quality of its water and its historical importance on the spice route.
Its name refers to the Order of Grandmont, the first monastic order in France founded in 1076. Known for its rigor, sobriety, and close connection to nature, this order inspired our philosophy: taking our time, selecting the right ingredients, working with precision, and letting the raw materials speak for themselves.
A life spent searching
At the origin of the house is Karim Karroum, an antique spirits dealer, collector, and history enthusiast. For years, he scoured France in search of forgotten bottles, lost recipes, old bistro spirits, and treasures hidden in cellars and attics.
Karim Karroum has become a major player in rare and antique spirits on the international market. He has gathered an unparalleled cultural, patrimonial, historical, and relational collection. His travel diaries include tasting notes, taken from period bottles, of all French alcohol families from the 19th and 20th centuries.
From all these years spent tasting forgotten liqueurs, poring over ancient texts, and questioning the heirs of old houses, the Distillerie de Grandmont was born.
It was monks in their monasteries who began to develop these herbal preparations: elixirs, bitters, and medicinal liqueurs.
The origin of liqueurs dates back to the early 12th century, when the first stills arrived in the West, brought back by the Crusaders.
THE GRANDMONTINE ORDER
The Order of Grandmont