Whisky, France / Brittany

Founded in 1986 by Guy Le Lay, the Distillerie des Menhirs initially produced products like cider, apple juice, and Brittany’s first pommeau. In 1999, the distillery began producing whisky — but chose to work with buckwheat instead of barley, despite its complex malting process and much lower yield (1.3 kg of buckwheat for a bottle, compared to 0.8 kg for a barley whisky). This bold, terroir-driven decision led to the creation of EDDU — meaning “buckwheat” in Breton — the world’s first buckwheat whisky.

For distillation and maturation, the Le Lay family employs a pair of traditional Cognac stills, uses mainly ex-Cognac casks, and follows a slow reduction process. This particular expression was distilled in 2011 and reflects the distillery’s dedication to authenticity and Breton identity.