THE COINTREAU DISTILLERY INAUGURATES ITS NEW TOUR, AN IMMERSIVE EXPERIENCE AT THE HEART OF THE ANGEVINE HOUSE
Exploration, discovery, multi-sensoriality… The all-new tour of the Cointreau Distillery invites you to (re)discover the iconic liqueur from Angers, and its unique know-how handed down from generation to generation since 1849. The only manufacturing site in the world, it was in Angers that the family adventure began over 170 years ago… and continues today.
THE COINTREAU DISTILLERY, DISCOVERING A HOUSE WITH A UNIQUE HISTORY & KNOW-HOW
In a few weeks’ time, the major works undertaken at the Cointreau Distillery since January 2020 will be coming to an end. This will mark the inauguration of a brand-new, immersive, multi-sensory tour, retracing the history of a local brand that has gone international. From the genesis of Maison Cointreau to the presence of the iconic orange liqueur in the world’s greatest cocktails, visitors will be taken on a journey through time and around the world.
From July 10, the curious, spirit lovers and heritage enthusiasts will be invited to immerse themselves in the secrets of the famous Anjou orange liqueur through a seven-chapter tour. From unique age-old know-how handed down from generation to generation, to encounters with passionate men and women, to the exploration of formidable advertising creativity or the discovery of mythical cocktails, Distillerie Cointreau reveals itself as never before.
First, in a hall dedicated to the early explorations of Édouard Cointreau, creator of the famous liqueur that bears his
name, visitors are invited into the man’s workshop, where they follow the dreamlike genesis of the brand through the initiatory tale of the liqueur-maker and distiller from Anjou. The Distillery, a temple to Cointreau’s savoir-faire, with its scent of
orange liqueur and its 19 majestic copper stills, is then revealed to the public, who discover the different stages of distillation specific to the House.
The new Mezzanine, which offers a breathtaking view of the distillery, now features a unique olfactory experience based around orange peels, an essential and precious element in Edouard Cointreau’s recipe. Visitors are introduced to the complexity, richness and power of the liqueur’s aromas – an unforgettable multi-sensory experience.
Then, visitors are invited to “Chez les Cointreau”, a surprising cabinet of curiosities, to discover the family history and its generations of entrepreneurs and visionaries from Anjou. It was their sensitivity to transmission, combined with the family’s pioneering spirit, that enabled them to transform a family name into an international brand. This is followed by an astonishing advertising retrospective featuring iconic archive pieces, such as the works of poster artists Henri Gustave Jossot and Charles Loupot, as well as those of Jean-Adrien Mercier, the famous interwar illustrator and grandson of Édouard, who modernized the brand’s image.
“Keeping the doors of the distillery open to Angevins and visitors from around the world is an ambition initiated when the House was founded in 1849 by my great, great, great, great grandfather Édouard-Jean; and his brother Adolphe.
Today, over 170 years later, this tradition remains unchanged, as do the stills and ancestral know-how preserved by the doors of this unique place in the world. Every time I visit, the smells and sounds emanating from the distillery take me back to my childhood, and it’s always a pleasure to return.
The multi-sensory, contemporary experience we want to offer visitors today is a plunge into the history of this iconic house, carried forward by inspired men and women. From the first advertising film created by the Lumière brothers to the most recent international creations, Maison Cointreau remains authentic and invites you to
experience an unforgettable moment.” Alfred Cointreau, sixth generation
It’s written in the books, they say. Mentioned in Carl Seutter’s essential “Der Mixologist”, the first mention of Cointreau in a cocktail book dates back to 1913… the first of many. Whether it was Harry and his “ABC of Mixing Cocktails” (1922), or Margaret Sames, who gave her name to the mythical Margarita, cocktail enthusiasts quickly made Cointreau liqueur their ingredient of choice. As proof, Cointreau liqueur is now listed in over 350 creations. The subject is so serious that, as a grand finale, visitors are immersed in an immersive experience retracing the history of the world’s most emblematic cocktails, before taking their place at the bar for a tasting workshop.
With this new tour, Maison Cointreau invites visitors from Angers, France and around the world to the heart of its history, born and bred in Angers.
To (re)discover the Cointreau distillery, four tour packages – for individuals or groups – are available to suit all tastes: from the classic tour (L’Instant Cointreau) for a first introduction, to the cocktail workshop (Du Zeste au shaker) to learn how to handle the shaker like a pro, each package combines a tour of the distillery with a cocktail experience.
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tour offers:
– Groups (duration 1h15): between €8.50 and €10
– L’Instant Cointreau (duration 1h15): €11
– Du Zeste au shaker (duration 1h30): €14
– L’Atelier d’Edouard and masterclasses (duration 2h): between €19 and €35
Information and reservations: 02 41 31 50 50
ZI St Barthelemy d’Anjou
WWW.COINTREAU.COM
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