Grand Marnier maker launches prestige pisco

Marnier Lapostolle, owner of the Grand Marnier liqueur brand, is to launch a super-premium pisco in the UK market from the Elqui Valley in Chile.

Charles de Bournet poses with his super-premium pisco, Kappa. Credit: Nadia Perez/Agencia Uno

The brainchild of seventh generation member of the Marnier Lapostolle family, Charles de Bournet, Kappa is made from 100% Muscat grapes grown in the cool climate region of Elqui.

The pisco takes its name from a star cluster within the Southern Cross Constellation visible at night in the Elqui Valley.

Nicknamed the “Jewel Box”, Kappa Crucis is considered one of the most beautiful star clusters in the Southern Hemisphere.

de Bournet has capitalised on his family’s Cognac making expertise, bringing a cutting edge copper alambic skill from Cognac to Chile in which to make the pisco. Unlike many piscos, Kappa is double distilled in the Cognac model in order to heighten the complexity of flavours and aromas in the spirit.

“I’m a big pisco fan and wanted to bring something new to the market and create a new super-premium category. Trials for Kappa took four years in order to get it where I wanted it to be,” de Bournet told the drinks business.

He believes the quality of the Muscat grapes from Elqui and the company’s distilling knowledge both play a critical role in the pisco’s quality.

“It has the soul of Cognac, the versatility of vodka, the complexity of gin and the smoothness of Tequila,” said de Bournet.

Kappa was launched in the US in 2011 with an off-trade rrp of $34.99, and is set to hit top London bars later this year through Spirit Cartel.

“I’m targeting the top mixologists in London. There’s been a real buzz building around pisco in the capital recently, which spurred me to launch Kappa in the UK,” de Bournet told db.

Just 5,000 cases of the spirit are currently made, but de Bournet has ambitious expansion plans for the brand, with a barrel-aged variant in the pipeline.

“Pisco is not like wine, it’s much easier to increase your production. All being well, I plan on doubling my production every year.

Kappa has huge potential – I’m looking into launching limited edition vintage and single vineyard versions,” he said.

Considered the country’s national drink, over five million cases of pisco are consumed in Chile each year. It is also the fastest growing spirit in the US.

Pisco is only produced in Chile and Peru and has been regulated under a D.O. since 1931, singling out Atacama and Coquimbo as the two regions in Chile where the spirit can be made.