Archibald - Distillations

The ‘Société des Vieux Copains’ was founded by longtime friends Olivier and Estelle in 2015 with a vision to create adult beverages that are “best in world” quality with a “better for the world” attitude. The name translates to The Old Friends Company (it sounds better in French, right?). They started with two products: Archibald, a nonalcoholic distilled tonic, and Folle Envie, an aperitif wine infused with lemon peel and cardamom inspired by an old recipe from Estelle’s great-grandmother, Zilda. 

These can be enjoyed together as a low ABV cocktail, and work equally well on their own. Archibald tonic can be used as a mixer like any other tonic, but also is incredibly delicious on its own as a non-alcoholic adult beverage.

Traditionally, tonic water derives its signature bitterness from quinine bark, which grows in India and in South America, but of course not in France. To create an entirely french tonic water, The Société des Vieux Copains chose to use gentian root from the meadows of Auvergne, along with juniper berries to add complexity, instead. Working with a master distiller, they invented a unique process to produce highly concentrated distillates from these raw materials, which can be added in small amounts to create a nonalcoholic beverage with a strong and balanced flavor. The entire process from start to finish is produced from whole organic ingredients in their distillery located between Bordeaux and Cognac in the southwest of France. Archibald is far and away one of the most delicious tonic waters, and is perfect to enjoy on its own or as a mixer. It comes in three glass bottle formats.

Tonic - a medicinal substance taken to give a feeling of vigour or well-being.
When is a tonic, tonic and how good can tonic be?

In Paris earlier this year, we were dining at a fantastic new little restaurant called Clamato in the 1th ARR. As we had just arrived off the long haul Perth to Paris a refreshing aperitivo was in order, and the standard gin and tonic was ordered, but standard was not delivered. The difference it turns out, was this amazing French Tonic - Archibald tonic, made just outside of Bordeaux and proudly French, is made with locally sourced ingredients only, and this means no Quinine, in it place distilled Gentian root and juniper berries. The result a delicious sipping tonic, perfect by itself as a non-alcoholic balanced drink and as we found perfect with gin. Anyway, it was really good. 

Then three days later we were at another highly recommended restaurant, and there it was again. A bit of online research and it turns out this French Gin was taking the local gastronomic scene by storm - celebrated by a raft of celebrated chefs and recognised by the College Culinare de France as the only soda that is part of French Heritage and as all wine lovers know the French take this stuff seriously.

A couple of emails and it was confirmed that not only was the brand available to be imported into Australia, but we could try the full range in Paris that week at the RAW wine - organic wine fair. 
So here we are six months later, and the full range has arrived. 

These are great tonics, perfect if you are looking for a serious but non-alcoholic drink and great to mix with your Favorite spirits, we hope you like them as much as I did and we will be trying to get a number of the local French restaurants. 

Archibald's sipping tonics may not be what you are expecting in classic Indian tonic water,r in that there is no Quinine, but they certainly providea  feeling of vigour and well-being.

Alex Wilcox