ROXANE MENGOLI & PHILIPPE BODON, FOUNDERS OF MAISON M

ROXANE MENGOLI & PHILIPPE BODON, FOUNDERS OF MAISON M

Philippe Bodon

"The fantasy surrounding stills, their operation as simple as it is complex, has always intrigued us."

08 April 2024

Mountain lovers Roxane Mengoli and Philippe Bodon have taken on the challenge of establishing an artisanal distillery in Valmorel, Savoie, where they employ traditional production methods to craft contemporary spirits.

How did the idea of MAISON M come about?

We are both from Savoie and hold a special fondness for our childhood home. It was crucial for us to elevate the resources offered by the mountains of our region to create spirits that are traditional, modern, authentic, and elegant. The allure of stills, with their operation as straightforward as it is intricate, has always intrigued us. Our diverse personal and professional backgrounds assist us daily in this committed project. Besides being exciting and responsible, this activity allows us to thrive in the environment we cherish so much.

What makes MAISON M an Avant-Gardist ?

While we cultivate essential plants and fruits for our production throughout the year, we also harvest wild ingredients. In fact, the majority of our resources (90%) come from wild foraging in our valley. These local resources allow us to craft high-end, refined, and elegant spirits.

"Some of these harvests take place at very high altitudes, between 2,800 and 3,600 meters, for example, for black genepi."

As for our orchards and high-altitude gardens, they are cultivated naturally. Nature's unpredictable conditions result in different harvests each year, making each vintage unique. These plants, picked and processed by us, are used dried, fresh, or even frozen depending on their properties. For our traditional liqueurs, we have chosen to step out of the appellation to offer spirits that are decidedly modern, without added sugar. We employ various methods for the production of our spirits, such as pot still distillation in our traditional copper stills for our brandies; steam distillation in our basket still for certain aromatic extractions; as well as simple maceration or maceration before distillation, and finally, aging for varying durations in our cellars. These different methods can be combined according to our recipes to achieve the unique identity of our spirits.



What did you do before? What led you to delve into the spirits industry?

Roxane holds a bachelor's degree in interior architecture. She worked for seven years in a design agency. As for me, I initially pursued a career in sports. Later, I worked as an artistic ironworker for eight years, a profession fascinating for its precision and complexity.


What is your favourite cocktail, and place to enjoy it?

Mister M, a cocktail crafted by Hyacinthe Lescoët, co-founder of the Cambridge Public House in Paris, featuring our products: genepi, gentian, and wild thyme.

What is the most rewarding feedback you have received from a customer about MAISON M?

"Your spirits are to die for".

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