Le Cercle - marchand d’eaux-de-vie

What Le Cercle - marchand d’eaux-de-vie does

Le Cercle - Marchand d'eaux-de-vie is a French independent spirits merchant founded in 2020-2022 in Saint-Palais-de-Négrignac, Charente-Maritime, the heart of the French Cognac and Spirits Valley. The company curates and distributes a portfolio of 21 brands across 10 categories — whisky, cognac, gin, vodka, tequila, rum, liqueurs, vermouth, and aperitivos — to the French B2B trade. Its portfolio mixes own brands (Ernest, Hedonist, Pointe Blanche, Cognac Planat, Résidence Gin) produced by partner Distillerie de Chevanceaux (founded 1830, 7th generation, 100% organic) with exclusive French distribution rights for international houses including Lazzaroni (Italy), El Mayor Tequila (Mexico), The Clydeside (Scotland), Natterjack (Ireland), and Biggar & Leith brands (USA). Notable production differentiators include a unique Atlantic island aging process for Pointe Blanche single malt and traditional Charentais copper alembic distillation at Distillerie de Chevanceaux. The company is co-led by Olivier Watrin (formerly Hedonist Spirits) and Julien Nau (7th generation of the Distillerie de Chevanceaux family), with a national 45-agent field sales force covering all of France.

The business model is sales-led distribution: Le Cercle buys or distributes third-party spirits and earns wholesale margins on sales to independent wine shops (cavistes), chain retailers (Nicolas, Cavavin, La Grande Épicerie, VandB), HORECA accounts (Beaumarly, Okko Hotels, Byblos), wholesalers and cash-and-carry operators (Metro France, Comptoir des Grandes Marques), and e-commerce platforms (Le Petit Ballon). Marketing is built on editorial content, cocktail recipes, a segmented trade newsletter, and experiential activations at cultural events (Les Arcs Film Festival, Cannes Semaine de la Critique) and trade shows (Wine Paris). The company has no external funding rounds, no disclosed revenue, and is privately held as a French SAS (SIREN 892783424). Independent validation includes three Double Gold medals at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023 and top honors at the World Whisky Awards 2026 for Pointe Blanche Single Malt Classique and Ernest Single Grain.

Name

Le Cercle - marchand d’eaux-de-vie

Legal name

LE CERCLE

Website

https://lecercle.link

Company type

Private

Founded year

2022

Operating status

Operating

Headcount range

1–10 employees

Short description

Le Cercle is a French independent spirits merchant that curates and distributes 21 artisanal spirits brands across 10 categories to French wine shops, HORECA, wholesalers, and e-commerce through a 45-agent national sales network.

Ownership category

akta.pro rank

Product category

Spirits Distribution

NAICS

Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (42482), Beer, Wine, and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (4248), Wine and Distilled Alcoholic Beverage Merchant Wholesalers (424820)

SIC

Wholesale-Beer, Wine & Distilled Alcoholic Beverages (5180)

akta.pro primary industry

Alcoholic Beverage Brand Owners & Holding Companies (Multi-category Portfolios) (CRADAIAL)

akta.pro secondary industry

Fine Wine & Luxury Spirits Retail (CRANABAE)

Keywords

• Spirits distribution
• Craft spirits portfolio
• Artisan liquor brands
• Wholesale beverage trade
• HORECA spirits supply

Headquarters

HQ city

Saint-Palais-de-Négrignac

HQ country

France

HQ region

Europe

Offices2 records

Markets served

GTM type

B2B

Offering type

Services

Cost components

Supply Chain, Personnel, Marketing or Sales, Operations

Revenue model

1. Distribution of Third-Party Spirits Brands: Le Cercle acts as exclusive French distributor for international spirits brands including El Mayor Tequila (Mexico), Lazzaroni Liqueurs (Italy), The Clydeside Scotch Whisky (Scotland), Natterjack Irish Whiskey (Ireland), and others. Revenue generated from distribution margins on sales to traditional trade (wine shops, CHR, wholesalers).
2. Own Brand Portfolio Sales: Le Cercle promotes and distributes its own brands including Ernest Liqueurs, Cognac Planat, Pointe Blanche whisky, and products from Distillerie de Chevanceaux. Distribution through the same traditional trade network.

Pricing tiers

Go-to-market motion2 records

Distribution channels4 records

Marketing channels5 records

Core offering

Le Cercle is an independent French spirits merchant that curates and distributes a portfolio of 21 artisanal spirits brands across 10 categories (whisky, cognac, gin, tequila, rum, liqueurs, vermouth, aperitivo) to the French trade. The company combines own-label production sourced from partner Distillerie de Chevanceaux (Ernest, Pointe Blanche, Cognac Planat, Résidence) with exclusive French distribution rights for international brands (El Mayor Tequila, Lazzaroni liqueurs, The Clydeside Scotch, Natterjack Irish Whiskey, Yellowstone Bourbon, Biggar & Leith portfolio). Products are sold through cavistes, chain wine stores, gourmet grocery, HORECA, wholesalers, cash & carry, and e-commerce platforms.

Differentiator

Problem solved

Functional benefit

Brands

• Ernest: A range of liqueurs and spirits produced by the Distillerie de Chevanceaux, honoring family heritage with products including vodka, gin, liqueurs, and whisky.
• Hedonist
• Pointe Blanche

Products and services

• Ernest Spirits Range A range of liqueurs, gin, vodka and whisky produced at Distillerie de Chevanceaux by Julien and Marie Nau (7th generation), honoring family heritage through recipes that revisit French liqueur and spirits traditions.
• Pointe Blanche Single Malt Whisky French single malt whisky produced at Distillerie de Chevanceaux that undergoes continental aging followed by 12-18 months of maturation in oyster huts on an Atlantic island, where natural climate variations, humidity and sea air accelerate aging and concentrate aromas. Winner of top honors at the World Whisky Awards 2026 (Single Malt Classique).
• Cognac Planat Cognac from the Planat family with more than 200 years of heritage, represented by Julien (7th generation and President of Cognac Planat) as a core Le Cercle partner brand distributed to the French market.
• Hedonist Cognac & Ginger Liqueur A cognac and ginger liqueur created by Jean-Marc Larhantec in 2012, combining VS+ cognac aged 3-4 years with green lemon, vanilla, ginger, and pepper macerations and distillations.
• Résidence Bio Gin Organic (bio) gin produced at Distillerie de Chevanceaux, winner of a Double Gold medal at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023.
• El Mayor Tequila (Blanco, Reposado, Añejo) Premium artisanal tequila produced by the Gonzalez family (4 generations of Master Distillers) at 2,300 m altitude in Jalisco, Mexico, with mineral-rich sandy soil producing sweet, juicy agaves. Exclusive French distribution by Le Cercle.
• Lazzaroni Liqueurs (Amaretto, Limoncino, Coffee Liqueur) Italian liqueurs from the family-owned Paolo Lazzaroni & Figli (Saronno, Italy, est. 1851), including Amaretto, Limoncino, and Coffee Liqueur, distributed exclusively in France by Le Cercle.
• The Clydeside Single Malt Scotch Whisky Lowland Scotch single malt whisky from The Clydeside Distillery in Glasgow, founded in 2017 by Tim and Andrew Morrison to revitalize the historic Lowlands whisky region. Distributed in France by Le Cercle.
• The Gladstone Axe (American Oak, Black Axe) American whiskey expressions from New York-based spirits house Biggar & Leith, both awarded Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2023.
• Biggar & Leith Spirits Portfolio (Shanky's Whip, Hotel Starlino, Butterfly Cannon, Stambecco) Creative spirits portfolio from New York-based Biggar & Leith (founded by Elwyn Gladstone), distributed in France by Le Cercle.

Quantifiable outcome

• Won World Whisky Awards 2026 top honors for Pointe Blanche Single Malt Classique and Ernest Single Grain Whisky
• +1 more outcomes

Named customers10 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

Feature3 records

Partnerships

Seven partnerships are on record, tiered core, flagship and minor.

• Paolo Lazzaroni & FiglicoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ Distributor · 1 February 2026Exclusive partnership for distribution of Lazzaroni liqueurs (Amaretto, Limoncino, Liqueur de café) on the French market. Lazzaroni is a family company based in Saronno, Italy, established in 1851 and recognized for its unique liquorist and confectionery expertise across generations.
• The Clydeside DistillerycoreStrategic or Co-development PartnerDistribution partnership for The Clydeside Single Malt Scotch Whisky. The distillery, founded in 2017 by Tim and Andrew Morrison, is located in Glasgow's historic Queen's Dock and aims to revitalize the Lowlands whisky region.
• El Mayor Tequila (Familia Gonzalez)coreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorExclusive French distribution of El Mayor premium artisanal tequila. Produced by the Gonzalez family (4 generations of Master Distillers) in Jalisco, Mexico at 2,300m altitude. Products include Blanco, Reposado, and Anejo expressions.
• Biggar & LeithcoreChannel Partner/ Reseller/ DistributorPartnership with New York-based spirits house known for creative brands including Shanky's Whip, Hotel Starlino, The Butterfly Cannon, The Gladstone Axe, and Stambecco. Founded by Elwyn Gladstone.
• Distillerie de ChevanceauxflagshipStrategic or Co-development PartnerCore production partner supplying own brands including Ernest Liqueurs, Pointe Blanche whisky, Cognac Planat, and Résidence Gin. Founded 1830, 100% organic, 7th generation family operation producing 11M liters annually.
• Les Arcs Film FestivalminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial spirits partner for the 15th edition of the European film festival. Spirits served at multiple venues including Manoir Savoie, Les Belles Pintes, bowling d'Arc 2000, Folie Douce, and others throughout the festival.
• Cannes Semaine de la CritiqueminorGTM or Marketing PartnerOfficial spirits partner for the Cannes parallel section showcasing emerging cinema. Two exclusive beach events on the Croisette featuring Hotel Starlino spritz and MistralGin cocktails to 1,000+ guests per event.

Scale indicators6 records

Recent moves6 records

Expansion highlights6 records

Direct peers

• Camus Cognac: Independent family-owned Cognac house (5 generations) producing and distributing premium cognacs globally, with focus on artisanal and single-origin expressions. Comparable to Le Cercle in family heritage, Charente base, and premium-distribution positioning.
• Maison Villevert: French premium spirits house founded by Jean-Sébastien Robicquet, distributing distinctive artisanal brands (CÎROC vodka, Six Vodka, Broken Shed vodka) globally. Comparable to Le Cercle in curating and distributing premium differentiated spirits brands, including via exclusive international partnerships.
• Marie Brizard Wine & Spirits: Paris-listed French spirits house (Pastis Henri Bardouin, William Peel, Sobieski vodka) with a broad portfolio distributed through French on-trade and off-trade channels. Comparable to Le Cercle in business model — multi-category spirits merchant with proprietary brands and B2B distribution across France.
• La Martiniquaise: French independent spirits group that produces and distributes a multi-category portfolio (rums, whiskeys, liqueurs, gin) through its own nationwide sales force. Most directly comparable to Le Cercle in terms of being a French spirits merchant with proprietary brands and a national distribution network, though at much greater scale.
• Bardinet: French family-owned spirits company producing and distributing rums (Dillon, Negrita), whiskies (Label 5), and liqueurs through French trade channels. Directly comparable as a multi-category French spirits merchant-distributor with own brands and wholesale reach.

Broad incumbents

• Rémy Cointreau: French premium spirits group (Rémy Martin, Cointreau, LOUIS XIII) headquartered in the same Charente region as Le Cercle. Relevant as a regional incumbent that competes for cognac/AOC distribution and has strong relationships with French cavistes.
• Pernod Ricard: Global spirits giant (Jameson, Martell, Chivas, Malibu) with extensive French distribution through its own sales force (Pernod Ricard France). Represents the broad incumbent against which Le Cercle competes for shelf space and HORECA listings.

Regional players

• Caves Augé: Historic Parisian wine and fine spirits retailer founded in 1850, distributing curated premium spirits to HORECA and retail customers in the Paris region. Comparable to Le Cercle as a French specialty spirits merchant focused on premium artisanal selection, though at a more limited geographic scale.
• Stock Spirits Group: Central European premium spirits company (Stock Original, Božkov, Fernet Stock) operating across Italy, Czech Republic, Poland, and other markets. Comparable as a multi-category regional spirits merchant, though its primary markets sit outside France.

Others

• Distillerie de Chevanceaux: Le Cercle's flagship production partner (founded 1830, 7 generations), producing Ernest, Pointe Blanche, Cognac Planat, and Résidence Gin. Included as the key enabling supplier whose own-brand manufacturing underpins Le Cercle's differentiated IP.

Market position

Strengths5 records

Weaknesses5 records

Competitive moat4 records

Key risks6 records

Key highlights7 records

Customer concentration

• LinkedInlinkedin.com/company/lecercle17

Revenue estimate

Valuation estimate

Number of profiles

Profiles2 records

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 Le Cercle - marchand d’eaux-de-vie