Burgundy is much more than just home to Joseph Cartron
Joseph Cartron liqueurs and eaux-de-vie are traditional Burgundian products whose production relies on close and lasting relationships created with the producers and distillers of the region over several generations.
Jean Cartron left Vendée in the west of France during the French Revolution to settle in Burgundy, at Argilly, a few kilometres from Nuits-Saint-Georges. He became a landowner after marrying a Burgundian lady. His grandson, Pierre Cartron, settled in Nuits-Saint-Georges in the early 1870s and it's in this town that, in 1882, his son, Joseph, established this business that still carries his name to this day. The company remains in Nuits-Saint-Georges, in the heart of Burgundy, the region that inspired the Cartron family's coat of arms.
The Joseph Cartron Company still buys 70% of its fruits in Burgundy, meaning the company can choose the exact time for the
harvest and work on the fruits at an optimum point of maturity. The use of these local fruit varieties, often with low yields (e.g. the Noir de Bourgogne Blackcurrant) favours the elaboration of typical Burgundian products such as:
- Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne, Joseph Cartron's flagship product
- Crème de Pêche de Vigne
- Crème de Framboise
- Crème de Cerise de Bourgogne
- Ratafia de Bourgogne
- Guignolet de Bourgogne
- Poire Williams des Monts de la Côte d'Or
- Marc de Bourgogne
In order to protect flavours specific to Burgundy, Joseph Cartron follows procedures comparable to that of the A.O.C. (Appellation d'Origine Contrôlée). Particularly important is the cultivation of the Noir de Bourgogne variety of blackcurrants to which the company is so closely affiliated and a regional network was set up between the fruit producers and liqueur producers in the middle of the 19th century. Indeed, it was the Mayor of Burgundy, Chanoine Kir, who came up with and popularised the mixing of Crème de Cassis with Burgundy wine in early in the 20th century, a combination that's now known as Kir, after his name.
Joseph Cartron Crème de Cassis de Bourgogne
This Double Crème de Cassis is made using only Noir de Bourgogne, the noblest blackcurrant variety, grown on the slopes of the Burgundy Grands Crus around
Joseph Cartron Banane Liqueur
Joseph Cartron flavour this creme de banane liqueur with a maceration of bananas sourced from Ecuador.
Joseph Cartron Crème de Peche de Vigne
Joseph Cartron has been making liqueurs since 1882 and boasts that up to 70 per cent of the fruits that it uses in its crèmes are from the Burgundy and
Joseph Cartron Mango Liqueur
Mango is one of the world's most-eaten fruits; its yellow and juicy flesh has delicate floral and peach-like flavours. Joseph Cartron sources mangoes from
Joseph Cartron Triple Sec Liqueur
Joseph Cartron's Triple Sec Curaçao is made from the essential oils of two varieties of fruit: sweet orange (Para variety from Brazil and Florida) and
Joseph Cartron Apricot Brandy
Joseph Cartron Apricot Brandy is made with apricots from the Mont du Lyonnais (near Lyons), France. These are harvested when very ripe after the summer
Joseph Cartron Amaretto Liqueur
The name Amaretto comes from the Italian word 'amaro' meaning bitter. Joseph Cartron use bitter green almonds as the base for their amaretto and how these
Joseph Cartron Crème de Framboise
Joseph Cartron make their Crème de Framboise with raspberries from the Hautes Côtes de Bourgogne area, less than 20kms from Nuits-Saint-Georges, and
Joseph Cartron Crème de Mûre des Roncières
The last red berry of the summer, the wild blackberries are only harvested when fully ripe. Joseph Cartron insists on using only wild blackberries rather
Joseph Cartron Elderflower Liqueur
Its flowers are the most aromatic part of the Elderberry. Joseph Cartron uses elderflowers from Austria and Hungary, which impart fresh and delicately
Joseph Cartron Crème de Cerise de Bourgogne
Made with Montmorency and chalonnaise cherries.
Joseph Cartron Lychee Liqueur
Cartron doesn't list the ingredients of this liqueur on its label, claiming the recipe is a 'jealously guarded secret'.
Joseph Cartron Pamplemousse Rose Liqueur
Made with a fruit concentrate using grapefruits from Israel and Florida.
Joseph Cartron Parfait Amour Liqueur
This floral liqueur's production process includes a distillation of sun dried lemon peel.
