Bastille French Whiskey 750ML

Bastille French Whiskey 750ML is a blended French whiskey made from malted barley and wheat, bottled at 43% ABV (86 proof) in a 750ml format. Awarded 94 points by the Beverage Testing Institute and a Double Gold at the 2024 Global Whisky Competition, this expression distinguishes itself through triple cask maturation in Limousin oak barrels previously used for Sauternes, Red Burgundy, and Sherry.

Quick Facts: ABV: 43% (86 Proof)  |  Origin: Southwest France  |  Blended French Whiskey  |  Distillery: Daucourt Family Distillery

Production & Heritage

The Daucourt family produces Bastille at their distillery situated just outside the renowned Cognac region in southwest France. The whiskey is fermented using a 120-year-old proprietary yeast strain and double-distilled in traditional Charente copper alembic stills — the same style of pot stills historically used for Cognac production. What sets Bastille apart from most world whiskeys is its maturation program: the spirit rests in French Limousin oak barrels that previously held three distinct wines — Sauternes, Red Burgundy, and Sherry — layering sweetness, fruit depth, and nutty complexity into the final blend.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Honey arrives first, followed by baking spice, dried cherries, and a faint wisp of smoke. A subtle leathery quality develops as the whiskey opens in the glass.

Taste: The palate entry delivers bright lemon and grapefruit peel, giving way to a medium-bodied mid-palate of honeyed malt and complex wood character. Sweet spice, citrus, and a gentle hint of peat emerge as the flavors build toward their peak.

Finish: Long and mouthwatering, marked by a distinctive black pepper note that lingers alongside traces of sweet peat and warm spice. The Limousin oak influence carries through to the very end, leaving a dry, satisfying close.

How to Drink Bastille

At 43% ABV, Bastille drinks comfortably neat or with a single ice cube to unlock its citrus and honey aromatics. A few drops of water can coax out additional fruit sweetness from the Sauternes cask influence.

• French 75 (whiskey variation): The bright citrus peel notes integrate naturally with lemon juice and champagne, creating a transatlantic riff on the classic.
• Old Fashioned: Bastille's honey and baking spice backbone stands up to bitters and sugar without losing its distinctive fruit character.
• Penicillin: The whiskey's light smoke and pepper finish mirror the cocktail's smoky float while its citrus notes complement the honey-ginger syrup.

Best For

• Scotch drinkers exploring whiskey beyond Scotland
• Gifting a wine enthusiast curious about spirits
• Building a world whiskey collection with a French representative
• After-dinner sipping alongside a cheese course

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Bastille taste like? Bastille leads with bright citrus peel and honey on the palate, transitions into complex wood and sweet spice at mid-palate, and finishes with a long, peppery note accented by light peat and leather.

How does Bastille compare to Glenfarclas 15? Both whiskeys share sherry cask influence, but Bastille adds Sauternes and Burgundy cask aging in French Limousin oak rather than ex-bourbon and oloroso sherry American and European oak typical of Speyside malts. Bastille also incorporates wheat alongside malted barley, giving it a softer grain profile compared to Glenfarclas 15's all-malt, 15-year aged character.

Is Bastille good for sipping neat? Yes — its 43% ABV and medium body make it very approachable neat, and the triple cask maturation provides enough complexity to reward slow, contemplative drinking.

Where is Bastille made? Bastille is produced by the Daucourt family at their distillery in southwest France, located just outside the Cognac appellation. The malted barley is sourced from northeast France.

What foods pair well with Bastille? Comté or Gruyère cheese highlights the whiskey's nutty, sweet notes. Seared duck breast mirrors its subtle smokiness. Crème brûlée echoes its honey and vanilla character. Charcuterie with dried fruit complements the Sauternes-influenced sweetness. Dark chocolate with sea salt plays against the peppery finish.

What sizes does Bastille come in? Bastille French Whiskey is widely available in the standard 750ml bottle.

Is Bastille worth the price? Bastille positions as an accessible entry into the French whiskey category, competing in the mid-range value tier against established single malts from Scotland and Japan — its 94-point BTI score and multiple gold medals suggest strong quality for its price bracket.

Why Bastille?

French whiskey remains a small but rapidly growing category, and Bastille is one of its most decorated ambassadors. The triple cask finishing in Limousin oak — using barrels from three of France's most celebrated wine traditions — is a production technique virtually no Scottish, American, or Japanese distillery replicates. A 94-point score from the Beverage Testing Institute, 92 points from the Ultimate Spirits Challenge, and a 2024 Double Gold at the Global Whisky Competition confirm the approach works. For drinkers who appreciate how terroir and winemaking traditions can reshape whiskey, Bastille delivers a flavor profile that genuinely cannot be found elsewhere in the category.