What we (really) know about the Aventure project?

The identity. Aventure was born of a friendship and a shared passion for rye whisky, this rustic and demanding grain rarely worked in France. The project claims to be local, organic and without artifice: no added flavors, no colorings, absolute transparency in the process.

The style. The bet is clear: make rye a French signature. Spicier, sharper, more direct than barley, rye imposes a different personality. The copper hybrid still (half pot still, half column) lets them explore precise profiles while working « on grain » - with the grain still in the mash.

The cellar. Set up in a raw urban warehouse in Bacalan, the deliberately unconditioned cellar goes through extreme swings: up to 45°C between seasons. These conditions speed up maturation, intensify wood/spirit exchange and give birth to powerful, deep, expressive whiskies. The trade-off? A generous « angels' share » (up to 20% at 3 years).

Capacity. The still (750 L) fills around a hundred barrels a year (~20,000 L of distillate). Distillation started in late 2019: some barrels are now in their maturity window.

The bottlings. Three founding references make up the range:

Aventure N°1: French oak, 4 years old, rye 61.7%, barley 37%, buckwheat 1.3%. Suggested price: 59€.

Aventure N°2: American oak, 3 years old, 80% rye, 20% barley. Suggested price: 69€.

Aventure N°3 Double Cask: double aging French oak + ex-Bordeaux Grand Cru cask, 5 years. Suggested price: 79€.

The visit. The distillery stays open to the public, as a living urban distillery: guided tours, accessible still, immersion in the rye world, all for around 15€ per person.

Jean Dujardin, the unexpected ally

Through his long-standing friendship with Olivier Carsoule, fed by their summers in Soulac-sur-Mer, Jean joined the adventure. His discovery of rye whisky goes back to a shoot abroad, initiated by an American actor. Won over by the complexity of this grain and seduced by the project's artisanal philosophy, he wanted to be fully involved.

What we know: he's a partner in the project, present in promotional content, and embodies strong backing: French elegance, sincerity and a taste for sharing.

What we don't know: the exact extent of his involvement (investment, governance). But his aura already draws media attention well beyond whisky lovers.

Why Aventure really matters to enthusiasts?

This isn't just one more whisky: it's a French-style rye that ticks rare boxes.

The bold choice of rye, a complex grain full of spice and energy.

Technical transparency: organic, no additives, tracked fermentation, clear distillation.

The setting: an urban distillery in Bordeaux, accessible and alive.

The tempo: after 5 years of maturation, the first bottlings finally arrive.

Aventure doesn't just ape Scottish or American whisky codes: it writes a new page in the Bordeaux terroir.

If you love beautiful stories that take their time, keep an eye on Aventure: the first bottling chapter is being written… a stone's throw from the quays.