Cap-aux-Péchés Distillery | The Church of Gin

Since the end of July, Gaspé residents and tourists can take a historical, alcoholic and ecclesiastical tour of the new Distillerie Cap-aux-Péchés. Located in the old church on the cape of Rivière-à-Claude, the family business produces a gin whose bottles are sold right in the confessional!

The project is led by Léandre Auclair and his father Serge, two spirits enthusiasts. “Without being big drinkers, we have a good collection of bottles at home, since my father always liked to taste new things,” explains the 23-year-old entrepreneur, who himself liked scotches and whiskeys.

Imagining the gratitude felt when making a product, knowing all its ingredients and all the effort invested, Léandre believed that opening his own distillery was an unattainable teenage dream. Until he started talking about it with those around him and learned that the village church was up for sale. “My father jokingly suggested that I set up my distillery there. We looked at each other and realized that it wasn’t stupid at all. In 2021, we made an offer and we got it. Then, we developed everything until it opened.”

With a bachelor’s degree in history obtained in May 2023, the young man trained in spirits manufacturing with his mentors, the Bougie brothers of Miellerie King in Kingsey Falls. “They accompanied me throughout the process and they came to produce the first batch with me to make sure everything was compliant.”

At the same time, work was carried out to update the plumbing and electrical systems, strengthen the structure so that the floor could accommodate the machinery, change the colour of the church, and install a ventilation system and a fire room. “The building was very sound to begin with. We were extremely lucky.”

The father-son duo had less luck with grant donors. “We got a few, but as soon as I said the word ‘distillery,’ the doors automatically closed, because of the difficulties in the industry.”

Nevertheless, some $750,000 was invested. “This comes partly from a conventional loan with the Caisse Desjardins de la Haute-Gaspésie and interest-free loans from our families and friends who believe in the project.”

A project that hopes to stand out

While he is doing everything to make his baby work, Léandre has no ambition to grow or sell on the shelves of the Société des alcools du Québec. “I want to keep it small, stay in the fun, take advantage of the waves of tourists in the region and be able to welcome people as I would like to be.”

However, he believes he stands out from the competition thanks to the location of the church-distillery on Route 132.

Another unique element: the historical character of the place. Customers will be able to sit on the church pews. Musicians will be able to play on the organ. The altar will serve as a sales and tasting counter. And the owner, who has already worked as a guide, already offers historical tours. “I transform myself into a fictional character from the village, Ti-Père Auclair. I didn’t want to take a real historical character and have people disagree with my representation.”

Ti-Père tells the story of the village, the arrival of the first inhabitants by boat and some juicy details that echo the sins. “For example, during prohibition, several people in the village made their own baboche, even though they were not allowed to. And during the war, the priest helped hide people who were fleeing conscription.”

The public seems to be fond of stories and spirits. At the time of the interview conducted six days after the opening, more than 450 bottles had been sold.

“I feel a sense of accomplishment and relief,” says Léandre Auclair. “I worked for a year without pay, riding on my savings and family assistance. I am very happy to finally be able to offer my product, which is inspired by the plants I picked locally.”

His first gin gets its sweetness from the white immortelle, a flower common in Gaspésie. “In a gin and tonic, you can do a 1 to 1 ratio because the alcohol is so sweet.”

In the near future, the entrepreneur wants to offer a gin made from red clover flowers and products such as liqueurs and grape marc spirits. “We want to use as many local fruits, plants and vegetables as possible to showcase the products that grow here,” he concludes.

396, Principale Street East, Rivière-à-Claude