Distillerie Le Vadrouilleur

The strong connection between Theo Arnulf's family and lavender is not new. Whether through his maternal or paternal lineage, each side has cultivated and distilled lavender at various times in their history. Indeed, his great-grandfather Fernand Bonis, followed by his son Georges, managed the La Loge distillery in turn. Lucien Arnulf, his paternal grandfather, who settled in Sault in the 1960s, and Didier, his father, both worked in the lavender fields until 1995.

Available directly from the distillery on Avenue des Vins.

Why did Theo Arnulf come back to France?

A return to his roots

After spending his childhood following his parents who were expatriates in Europe and around the world, and having lived abroad for much of his life working in the hospitality industry, Theo Arnulf decided to return to France. He aimed to renovate his great-uncle's and great-grandfather's old shed to set up his still and distillation workshop. This return to his roots reaffirms the family’s adventurous spirit and love for its terroir.

How did the distillery come to life?

From dream to reality

Since childhood, Theo Arnulf and his family dreamed of creating a gin that would embody "the taste and smell of the blue country" every time they passed the old distillery of his great-uncle. The dream became a reality with the establishment of Distillery Le Vadrouilleur! Since then, the distillery's ambition has been to continually develop spirits from Provençal and organic plants and to create, in the near future, a range of authentic spirits that best represent the Haute-Provence region. Creating a beverage to celebrate joyful events, friendship, and conviviality is a great pride for Distillery Le Vadrouilleur, and new projects abound!

Gin is a spirit that allows for the expression of creativity through countless combinations of aromas and plants to experiment with. Theo Arnulf has a vivid memory of his first distillation, which took place after two years of intense work. From the creation of Distillery Le Vadrouilleur and setting up the still, to the multiple recipe trials, and finally the development of the final recipe and bottling, numerous challenges had to be overcome before the Mistello Gin came to life!

What makes Mistello Gin unique?

A unique flavor

Mistello Gin is deeply imbued with Provençal identity, even in its name, Mistello meaning "spirituous." The initial idea was to create a gin representing the spirit of the South through its aromas, warmth, and summery character. Thus, Mistello Gin was born: a high-quality gin crafted with local and organic aromatic herbs, all under the sun of Haute Provence.

As with any gin, juniper is the base, but in the case of Mistello Gin, lavender takes center stage. Upon tasting, you will be immediately transported to blooming lavender fields, and you might even hear the cicadas sing! Alongside the juniper and lavender, other Provençal aromatic plants are added, such as sage, thyme, verbena, absinthe, and angelica root. Lavender is also featured in the bottle design, as each cap is made from distilled and compressed lavender!

Discover the creations of Distillerie Le Vadrouilleur directly from the distillery, at the estate price, in a short supply chain on Avenue des Vins.

Frequently asked questions about Distillerie Le Vadrouilleur

Where is Distillerie Le Vadrouilleur located?

Theo Arnulf's workshop sits in Haute-Provence, near Sault, in a former family outbuilding he renovated to house his still. The surrounding lavender fields shape the character of his spirits.

What is Mistello gin?

It is the distillery's first spirit, designed to capture the warmth of southern France. Made with local Provencal aromatics, it puts lavender in the spotlight alongside the juniper found in every gin.

Which plants go into Mistello gin?

Beyond juniper and lavender, the recipe brings together thyme, sage, verbena, angelica root and absinthe. These southern aromatics give the gin its sunny, summery profile.

Is Mistello gin made from organic plants?

Yes. The distillery works with Provencal plants grown under organic farming. This standard also guides the future spirits Theo Arnulf plans to develop in the coming years.

Where does the name Mistello come from?

It reflects the distillery's Provencal roots, with Mistello meaning spirit. The link runs all the way to the bottle, whose cap is shaped from lavender pressed after distillation.