1874: A distiller's legacy, passed down from father to son
Louis Roque was born in 1874 in Sarlat.
He grew up in a family of distillers, a tradition passed down from father to son. At the end of the century, the Roque family witnessed firsthand the Phylloxera crisis, as an insect from the United States ravaged the region's vineyards.
The Roque family in 1875
Drawing of a still by Clovis Retif
First LR seal in 1905
1905: CREATION
FROM THE DISTILLERY
With his diploma in hand, Louis married and settled in Souillac with his wife and two daughters. He created his own distillery in a former convent, setting up production on the ground floor and his living quarters upstairs.
First letter card
Postcard from the archives of Souillac showing the Louis Roque house, located in a former convent.
THE LINE
PARIS-SOUILLAC
In this Lot town, despite being affected by rural exodus, Louis feels that it is on this land that his dream will come true. Ideally situated north of a bend in the Dordogne, Souillac has a train station on the line connecting Toulouse to Paris. For Louis, this station is the starting point for all his gastronomic adventures.
The distillery's first catalogue
Postcard of the Toulouse > Paris Viaduct
1910: LOUIS
RECIPE CREATOR
Oenologist, alchemist and explorer, Louis filled entire notebooks with audacious recipes: Anisette, Croquet quinquina, Curaçao, mint liqueur, Armagnac, liqueur l'Inconnue… Up to the Vieille Noix which would be the beginnings of his iconic product, the Vieille Prune.
Recipe archive
Drawing by Clovis Retif
1920: CREATION
OF THE OLD PLUM
At the end of the war, Louis traveled across France in search of new plum varieties. With the return of Alsace and Lorraine to French territory, he discovered the mirabelle and quetsche plums, specific to these two regions.
After many months of research, he developed a plum brandy made from a blend of these different varieties, combining balance and finesse. He also innovated by choosing to age it in small oak barrels, giving it an amber hue and a more subtle profile.
Presented in a Burgundy-style bottle and adorned with a distinctive cursive typography, this new creation was an immediate success.
Oak barrels - Souillac
Old Plum Brandy - Original Reserve
From father to daughter
Upon her father's death, Clothilde, Louis Roque's daughter, took over the reins of the company for 40 years. A true influencer ahead of her time, she made Vieille Prune de Souillac shine on the finest tables in Paris and beyond: from Le Grand Véfour to La Tour d'Argent, passing through La Petite Chaise and Le Pré Catelan, she forged connections and enriched an address book that included the most discerning palates and aesthetes of the capital.
Countess Clotilde Dufour de Raymond
Period Restaurants and Menus
2025: A New Beginning for Handover
After 120 years within the same family, the House has been taken over by three Champenois. They aim to awaken this sleeping beauty by combining heritage, investment, and innovation.
Their first discovery is an exceptional barrel of old plum brandy, aged 10 years. They decide to unveil it through an anniversary cuvée of 120 numbered magnums, in homage to the House's 120 years.
They also decide to open a boutique in Paris, a true living space and showroom for the expertise of Maison Louis Roque, located on Rue du Cherche-Midi, in the heart of the gastronomic district.
For the coming years, their ambition is clear: continuously elevate product quality through mastery of aging and the development of innovative blends.
At the heart of the House, a loyal team ensures continuity and maintains the connection between the different eras of its history.
Ils décident aussi d’ouvrir une boutique à Paris, véritable lieu de vie et showroom du savoir-faire de la Maison Louis Roque, située rue du Cherche-Midi, au cœur du quartier gastronomique.
Pour les années à venir, leur ambition est claire : élever en permanence la qualité des produits, grâce à la maîtrise du vieillissement et au développement d’assemblages innovants.
Au cœur de la Maison, une équipe fidèle assure la continuité et fait vivre le lien entre les différentes époques de son histoire.
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