avec l’amour de la France

The French have long enjoyed unequivocal recognition for their mastery in the world of fine liquor – from Cognac to Champagne, and all things vine-related. However, vodka – that hearty, grainbased spirit evoking the icy cold of Eastern European winters – had not traditionally been part of France’s famed legacy, leaving the spotlight to Russia and Scandinavia. That is, until 1997, when creator Sidney Frank had redefined the deceivingly simple spirit, harnessing the best traditions of French cognac-making to produce a liquor so extraordinary it earned the title of ‘The World’s Best Tasting Vodka’. Taking its name after local geese that flock to France’s Cognac region, Grey Goose vodka was born.

The vodka’s claim to fame begins in northern Picardy, where lush farmlands produce the highest quality of soft winter wheat for the liquor’s rich base. After milling and fermentation, the alcohol is distilled in a custom-designed five-step process that goes beyond simply removing impurities to focus on development of the spirit’s distinctive character that imparts its signature flavour.

The base spirit is sent on to world-famous Cognac, where it is blended with pure spring water, naturally filtered through the limestone of Grande Champagne and drawn by an artesian well from an aquifer 500 feet beneath the surface. The blend undergoes over 500 quality control checks daily, including the crucial final taste test performed by a panel of experts and the Grey Goose Maître de Chai (“cellar master”) François Thibault, who applies his immense spirit-making expertise to personally approve each batch before bottling. Once rinsed and filled, each bottle is capped by the trademark cork, a nod to Cognac’s winemaking tradition.

Whether served straight or in a cocktail, Grey Goose showcases a smooth, vaguely nutty feel, opening with delicate floral and citrus notes and rounding off with a bright, lingering finish. Meticulously crafted, the must-try taste sensation is a testament to nature’s finest ingredients, steeped in France’s world-class legacy.