Tasting and country-style terrace at Vallée Bleue Distillerie

There’s nothing better than setting off with friends on a beautiful summer afternoon for a tasting and aperitif in a rural setting. On the menu: a warm welcome, a charming venue, refreshing cocktails and good home-cooked food.

Girls' night out

I must confess that this place has been on my mind for a long time. All I needed was a free afternoon to decide to go. I wrote to my friend Marie-Christine to see if she was available to accompany me, and off I went to La Vallée Bleue – Distillerie in Val-Alain in the Lotbinière area, not far from Highway 20 by the way! I don’t go walking in this part of Lotbinière very often, so just getting there was a pleasant discovery for me.

When we arrived, I took the time to discover the small boutique stocked with great products. Indeed, many of their alcoholic creations have won international awards. In fact, that’s what we’re about to discover during our tasting session.

Store tasting

Mysa, the co-owner herself, will be looking after us at this tasting event. At a cost of just $5, customers are invited to take part in a tasting of the distillery’s alcoholic products, which I strongly suggest you do. Don’t ask me how many products I’ve tasted, because I’ve lost track, there are so many: spirits, gins, brandy, acerum, crème alcoolisée, mistelles, wines, etc. My favorite of the lot is undoubtedly the Sweet Bunny, a Raspberry Spring Gin. I bought the version with edible glitter inside to make beautiful homemade cocktails for my guests.

Mysa explains that Vallée Bleue Distillerie stands out from the crowd thanks to its 100% artisanal alcoholic products. In fact, they’re the only company to make a completely handcrafted alcoholic maple cream, which to my taste surpasses all other popular brands.

Appetizers on the terrace

After the tasting, it’s time for something to eat. So we decide to share one of their homemade charcuterie and cheese platters and head upstairs to the lovely terrace. What’s more, the weather’s nice and it’s Marie-Christine’s birthday, so why not try a fruity cocktail to accompany our lunch. What’s more, the cocktail menu was pretty tempting, so we couldn’t resist!

With a view over the blueberry fields and birdsong in the background, this terrace has it all! A great place to soak up the sun, chat with the girls, relax and take some splendid photos. It’s such a peaceful, quiet place. In no time at all, everything was eaten, and it was really good and fresh. The presentation alone made you hungry.

Visit the farm

Before we left, there was one last thing we needed to do: say hello to the farm animals. In the gang, we have two goats, a miniature ox and some chickens. However, the number of hens has to be calculated, as they were attacked by a nasty neighbor the day before, if you know what I mean….

Space for families

And, for families, there’s a lovely play area as well as tables and shaded areas available to visitors. Mysa, the co-owner, told us that for picky eaters, it’s possible to bring your own picnic and eat on site without any problems. In this way, both young and old are satisfied. Enjoy your visit!

Photos: Amélie Dumas-Aubé