Domaine des Hautes Glaces

History

Domaine des Hautes Glaces is located in Trièves, Isère, France. A farm has been converted into a malt house and a distillery, and grain and malt have been converted into cellars, with the cellars repurposed for storage. The estate functions as a place for welcome, creation and sharing, and its alpine location is highlighted as the source of nature's abundance and a living terroir.

Production / Manufacturing

Here, Hautes Glaces harnesses the power of the local environment and terroir to showcase the essence of nature and a living territory. They are driven by an integrated unit where cereals are cultivated and distilled in the same area (génie du lieu). The production includes:

• Malted grain varieties and a home production of malt (Recette domestique) with long fermentation and distillation phases.

• Fermentation of about 140 hours with a natural yeast strain.

• Double distillation using a wood-fired still (alambic à repasse 25 hL) and in some cases several types of wooden casks (e.g., fûts de bois) for aging.

• Aging in a blend of oak casks (fûts de chêne français) including sessile and pedunculate (oak with acorns), cognac, armagnac and wine finishes.

• Final adjustment through gradual addition of water (ouillage) to reach about 44% ABV for Indigène, and variations around 47–53% for Epistémè and the S12U24/S12U24 editions.

• Parcellaire approach in Elevation: eaux-de-vie parcellaires mature in selected casks from vintages 2012–2019 and are later blended into complex assemblages.

• Philosophy around a completely unique journey in the chain and maturation across the father: some variants undergo double or triple maturation in different types of French oak (e.g., Cognac, wine / Pinot Gris finishes).

Products / Whisky series

• Indigène (50 cl, 44% ABV, €69): 100% barley malt (Single Malt), organic and regenerative. A visionary interpretation of the Scottish single malt, tailored to Hautes Glaces’ Trièves terroir.

• S12U24 (50 cl, 53% ABV, €205): 100% Grand épeautre (spelt) malted. Single Spelt, from the Gabert climate set (harvests 2012). Aged in Cognac cask. Part of the ongoing exploration of large spelt and agroforestry terroir.

• R15C25 ■ - Double maturation (50 cl, 47% ABV, €105): Epistémè R15C25, first of two variants from the R15C25 experiment. 100% rye (Caroas) malted in Gabert in 2015; first aging in new French oak, followed by Cognac roux. Maturation in two different casks.

• R15C25 ▲ - Triple maturation (50 cl, 47% ABV, €115): Epistémè R15C25 ▲, second part of the pairing, triple maturation in three different French oak casks (new, Cognac roux, Pinot Gris finish). The product is described as rustic and earthy with citrus notes at the finish.

• Epistémè (Collection, describing the expedition): Epistémè is the collection for exploratory and unique releases that explore the role of soil and grapes/corn in the whiskey. Each edition carries a codename for the concrete experimental approach (grain, yeast, cask, season, parcel, etc.).

Visits and experiences

Domaine des Hautes Glaces operates daily as a place for visits and experiences:

• Guided tour of the distillery.

• Whisky Workshop & Gourmand Pairings with 4 whiskies and 4 dishes (a varying pairing experience).

• Events and media coverage (e.g., Le Monde and other articles about terroir whiskies in Isère).

• The Biens Vivants operating concept and related community initiatives, where producers and guests share a common experience of living farming and distilling craft.

Philosophy

• Biens Vivants: Domaine des Hautes Glaces produces spirits where the grains are grown and distilled within the same territory. This physical and value-based unity is the foundation for a strong sense of community between farmers and the distillery, as well as an open invitation for supportive and inspiring partners to become part of life around the domain.

• Through local engagement and the production's terroir, they embody a belief that time, grain and craft are interwoven in a living nature, which they are willing to share through events, visits and releases.