For those who don't know, peket is the name given to Dutch gin in Walloon. A clear spirit flavoured with juniper berries, particularly popular during folk festivals in Wallonia. And a Walloon has just developed an organically certified peket, M.PEK35. A first in Belgium.
Michel Bouillon inherited his passion from his great-grandfather Louis, who founded his own distillery in 1898. More recently, his brother Etienne spoke to him about distilling the first Belgian whiskey, now recognised as one of the 5 best in the world. So, a family tradition.
Riding the wave of organic and more specifically organic alcohols (mainly gin and vodka), the Liege-born Michel decided to embark on a process of organic certification. "Organic is not just a trend. It is a very strict specification which means that the grains included in the composition of the peket are grown organically, without any chemical input, but also that it is distilled in organic stills", he explained. In practical terms, this means that each raw material for the product is organic and traceable. As for the taste, this is not fundamentally different.
Called M.PEK 35, Michel Bouillon's organic peket has just been certified by Certisys, a specialist inspection and certification body. This official recognition specifically enables him to sell his product abroad through the Wallonia Export-Investment Agency (AWEX).
At the same time the Confrérie Tchantchès, which promotes Liege folklore and traditions, has approved M.PEK 35 which is now available in delicatessens and organic stores.
Source: CCI Mag
