La Distillerie de Monaco

What La Distillerie de Monaco does

La Distillerie de Monaco, operating through S.A.R.L. MONT CHARLES and founded in 2017 by Philip Culazzo, is the first and only distillery in the Principality of Monaco, producing handcrafted gin, liqueurs, rum, and a charitable limited-edition vodka. The product portfolio centers on L'Orangerie (premium bitter orange liqueur made from nearly 600 locally grown, hand-harvested bitter orange trees), Carruba (carob liqueur derived from Monaco's national tree), Gin Aux Agrumes (a citrus London dry gin distilled from 11 locally sourced botanicals, holding IWSC Double Gold, Gold, and Silver medals), Mandrillo (Mediterranean citrus liqueur), Mother Mesccia and A Mesccia (rums aged in vermouth casks), and Monaco Vodka for Peace in Ukraine (a 1,000-bottle limited edition). Production is artisanal, using copper alembic stills and traditional distillation methods, with the dual-distillation vodka process and carob bean roasting as notable technical features.

The company's business model is direct-to-consumer, combining a single physical retail location at 9 Rue de la Turbie in Monaco's Condamine quarter with a Shopify-powered international e-commerce storefront accepting PayPal and shipping to a broad set of countries. Revenue is generated through one-time purchases of bottles (€27-€115), gift boxes, miniature packs, curated premium hampers (€21-€169), merchandise (posters, hats, glasses, marmalade, chocolates), and paid distillery experiences (€20-€250). Customer segments are predominantly individual premium spirit enthusiasts, gifting buyers, Monaco tourists, and a secondary base of boutique bar and restaurant operators; 'The Club' email newsletter supports retention. The business is privately held as a Monaco-registered SARL with no disclosed external funding, parent company, or institutional investors, and relies entirely on founder-led operations with a headcount of 11-50 employees.

Name

La Distillerie de Monaco

Legal name

S.A.R.L. MONT CHARLES

Website

https://distilleriedemonaco.com

Company type

Private

Founded year

2017

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

11–50 employees

Short description

La Distillerie de Monaco is the first and only distillery in the Principality of Monaco, producing handcrafted gin, liqueurs, and rum from locally sourced bitter oranges and carob, sold direct-to-consumer via e-commerce and a single physical store to tourists, gift buyers, and premium spirit enthusiasts.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Artisanal Spirits

NAICS

Distilleries (31214), Beer, Wine, and Liquor Retailers (445320)

SIC

Beverages (2080)

akta.pro primary industry

Distilled Spirits Production & Distilling (AFAFAAAC)

akta.pro secondary industries

Spirits Distilling & Brands (CRADAIAC), Alcoholic Beverage Tours & On-site Experiences (Brewery/Winery/Distillery) (THAFALAK), Producer-Owned Retail & Bottle Shops (On-site) (THAFALAL)

Keywords

• Artisanal liqueurs
• Craft gin
• Bitter orange liqueur
• Carob liqueur
• Premium spirits

Headquarters

HQ city

Monaco

HQ country

Germany

HQ region

Europe

Offices1 record

Markets served

GTM type

B2C

Offering type

Hardware or Manufacturing

Cost components

Supply Chain, Operations, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Others

Revenue model

1. Direct Product Sales: Direct-to-consumer sales of artisanal liqueurs, gins, spirits, and gift products through their e-commerce website and physical distillery location. Products include standard bottles, gift boxes, miniature sets, and experience packages. One-time purchase model for individual products with optional subscription-style membership through 'The Club' for exclusive benefits.
2. Gift Hampers and Bundles: Pre-curated gift baskets and hamper products (Le Royal, Le Breakfast Martini, Le Gin Tonic, Discovery Pack, Mother's Day hampers) offering bundled products at premium price points ranging from €21 to €169.
3. Charitable/Social Impact Products: Special edition Monaco Vodka for Peace in Ukraine - limited to 1000 hand-numbered bottles at €60, with 100% of funds (after material costs and taxes) donated to benefit women and children fleeing war in Ukraine.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion1 record

Distribution channels2 records

Marketing channels6 records

Core offering

La Distillerie de Monaco is the first and only distillery in the Principality of Monaco, producing handcrafted gin, liqueurs, rum, and vodka using artisanal distillation methods and locally sourced botanical ingredients (bitter oranges from nearly 600 municipal trees, carob beans from Monaco's national tree, and Mediterranean citrus). The company sells its products directly through a Shopify-powered online store and a physical distillery shop in the Condamine quarter of Monaco, complemented by curated gift hampers, miniature sets, branded glassware, and tasting experiences.

Product overview

La Distillerie de Monaco is the first and only distillery in the Principality of Monaco, producing handcrafted gin, liqueurs, and spirits using artisanal methods and locally sourced ingredients. The core product portfolio centers on four main spirits: L'Orangerie (premium bitter orange liqueur), Carruba (carob liqueur), Gin Aux Agrumes (citrus gin), and Mandrillo (Mediterranean citrus liqueur). Additional offerings include Mother Mesccia rum, A Mesccia vermouth-aged rum, and Monaco Vodka for Peace (special edition supporting Ukraine). The product line extends to gift boxes, miniature bottles, themed gift baskets (Le Royal, Le Gin Tonic, Monaco Spritz, Mother's Day collections), experiences (Eau de Vie Experience, Discover the Real Spirit of Monaco), accessories (artisan hats, liqueur glasses, Monaco Spritz glasses), print merchandise (vintage posters), food products (artisanal marmalade, chocolates), and Discovery Packs combining multiple products. The company specializes in craft spirits that embody Monaco's heritage and Mediterranean terroir.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Products and services

• L'Orangerie Bitter Orange Liqueur Premium bitter orange liqueur handmade from native oranges grown along Monaco's boulevards, served chilled as a digestif or mixed with Prosecco for a Monaco Spritz.
• Carruba Carob Liqueur Luxurious liqueur crafted from roasted carob beans (the fruits of Monaco's national carob tree) with deep notes of chocolate, coffee, and caramel, enjoyed as a digestif or cocktail ingredient.
• Gin Aux Agrumes The first gin ever distilled in Monaco: a London dry gin made with 11 locally sourced botanicals including juniper, bitter and sweet oranges, lemon, lime, grapefruit, bergamot, citron, and lemon thyme.
• Mandrillo Citrus Liqueur A layered, aromatic Mediterranean citrus liqueur, lightly sweetened with no artificial flavors and containing no lemon despite its limoncello-like appearance.
• Monaco Vodka for Peace in Ukraine Special edition vodka limited to 1000 hand-numbered bottles, distilled from 100% Italian grain spirit, carbon filtered, and cut to 40% with spring water; 100% of net proceeds support women and children fleeing war in Ukraine.
• Mother Mesccia Rum Pure single rum made from crystalline sugar cane, first distilled in Haiti in a traditional still and then shipped to Monaco for second distillation and aging in vermouth and Marsala barrels.
• A Mesccia Vermouth-Aged Rum 21st-century revival of Monaco's traditional Mesccia blend, a rum aged in genuine ex-vermouth casks, reviving the Principality's historical rum-and-vermouth drinking tradition.
• Le Royal Premium Gift Hamper Premium gift basket combining Gin Aux Agrumes, L'Orangerie, Carruba, Monegasque fougasse, a professional mixology kit, L'Orangerie marmalade, four artisan tonics, coffee, and Christmas decorations.
• Eau de Vie Distillery Experience 60-minute in-person distillery experience at the Monaco atelier, walking guests through the secrets of spirit distillation, booked via Sesami.

Quantifiable outcome

• Nearly 600 bitter orange trees harvested annually in Monaco for L'Orangerie production
• +2 more outcomes

Named customers3 records

Segments4 records

Ideal customer profiles4 records

Technology focussed No

API detail

Has API

No

API docs

API detail

Core technology

AI maturity

App detail

Feature4 records

Partnerships

Two partnerships are on record, tiered core.

• Shopify Inc.coreTechnology or IntegrationE-commerce platform provider powering the company's online store. Enables online product sales, payment processing, and inventory management. Terms of Service confirms store operates on Shopify.
• PayPalcoreTechnology or IntegrationPayment processing partner enabling customer transactions. Listed as accepted payment method on checkout.

Scale indicators5 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Sipsmith: London craft gin distillery and pioneer of the copper-still craft gin movement. Comparable as a similarly positioned small-batch, single-distillery gin brand sold through DTC, on-trade, and premium retail with strong brand storytelling.
• Combier: Historic French artisanal liqueur and triple-sec producer in Saumur. Comparable as a heritage-driven European craft liqueur house using traditional methods and locally-rooted botanicals to compete in the premium on-trade and gift markets.
• Italicus Rosolio di Bergamotto: Premium Italian bergamot liqueur positioned as a craft aperitif for mixologists and luxury on-trade. Comparable to La Distillerie de Monaco as a similarly premium, single-origin botanical liqueur sold primarily through high-end bars and DTC gifting.
• Cointreau: Iconic premium French orange liqueur and the category leader in citrus liqueurs. Comparable because it shares the citrus-liqueur category with L'Orangerie, sells through both on-trade cocktail programs and gifting channels, and competes for the same premium aperitif/digestif occasions.
• Dolin: Historic French producer of vermouth and liqueurs de Chambéry. Comparable as a heritage French specialty spirits maker with terroir roots, multi-SKU craft portfolio, and a strong on-trade presence in premium cocktail programs.
• Poli Distillerie: Family-owned Italian artisanal distillery producing craft grappa, liqueurs, and spirits using traditional copper stills. Directly comparable as a similarly sized, family-run European craft distillery with terroir-driven ingredients, premium positioning, and a curated multi-SKU portfolio.

Emerging players

• Isle of Raasay Distillery: Small Scottish island craft distillery producing single malt gin and whisky with strong sense-of-place branding and DTC tourism. Comparable as a similarly sized, terroir-anchored craft distillery that monetizes both bottles and on-site distillery experiences.
• St-Germain: Premium French elderflower liqueur that built a craft-to-global brand via cocktail culture. Comparable as a floral/botanical liqueur with strong storytelling, positioned in premium on-trade and gifting — the kind of trajectory La Distillie's liqueur portfolio could emulate.

Broad incumbents

• Hendrick's Gin: Premium Scottish gin brand built on unusual botanicals (cucumber, rose) and storytelling. Comparable in gin category competition with Gin Aux Agrumes, and as a benchmark for how a distinctive botanical story can scale a craft gin internationally.
• Giffard: Established French family-owned liqueur producer with a broad portfolio of fruit and herbal liqueurs. Comparable as a larger incumbent in the same premium French/European liqueur category, serving both mixologists and retail gifting.

Market position

Strengths4 records

Weaknesses4 records

Competitive moat6 records

Key risks5 records

Key highlights6 records

Customer concentration

• Facebookfacebook.com/distilleriedemonaco
• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/distilleriedemonaco
• Instagraminstagram.com/distilleriedemonaco
• Xx.com/monacospirits

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles1 record

Funding overview

Funding rounds

Investors

Funding detail is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

M&A

Investments

M&A and investment is available on the Subscription and Enterprise plan.Contact sales →

Frequently asked questions about La Distillerie de Monaco