From the shelf
Everything we have from Eddu
Click on a bottle for the rest of the details.
Why buckwheat and not barley
Buckwheat is to Brittany what peat is to Islay: it grows on poor soil where little else will, and it is in everything the region eats, from galettes to pancakes. When the Le Lay family decided to make whisky, they did not choose the Scottish blueprint but the grain of their own region.
That is more laborious and more expensive: buckwheat yields about half the alcohol that barley gives. The result smells different from any other whisky. Formally it is not a single malt, because buckwheat is not barley. That is a difference you should know before you pour.
The bottles we have in stock
Pure buckwheat, a blend with barley, and a version made entirely of barley.
Five generations of distilling in Plomelin
- A brief history
- 1921The family buys a still to distil lambic.
- 1986Guy Le Lay founds the distillery.
- 2002The first bottles of Eddu.
- 2009The three sons take over.
The Le Lay family distils in Plomelin, southwest of Quimper. The tradition goes back to 1921, when a still was bought to make lambig; the fifth generation is now at work. Guy Le Lay, a maths teacher by training, founded the distillery in 1986 and began making whisky in the late nineties. The first bottles of Eddu came in 2002.
It is double-distilled in copper alambics charentais over an open flame, not steam, and aged exclusively in French oak. The whole range falls under the protected designation IGP Whisky de Bretagne: from milling to maturing, everything happens in Brittany.
The names point the way. Silver is one hundred percent buckwheat, five years, in ex-cognac casks of French oak. Brocéliande is also pure buckwheat, but finished in new casks of oak from the Brocéliande forest. Grey Rock is a blend of barley and buckwheat whisky. And Ed Gwenn, Breton for white grain, is made entirely of barley.
Grain from the local region, even though it yields half as much.
What these bottles go with
Buckwheat whisky smells of honey, candied apricot and roasted hazelnut, with a silky-smooth texture. It is a flavour you will not come across anywhere else.
Start with Silver or Grey Rock if you want to know whether this is for you; Grey Rock is milder because barley is part of it.
Call 0570 541 278 or drop in at Brink 2 in Bathmen.
Frequently asked questions about Eddu
How much Eddu does ’t Bockje have in stock?
Four bottles.
What does Eddu mean?
Eddu is the Breton word for buckwheat. That is the grain this whisky is made from.
Is Eddu a single malt?
No. Buckwheat is not barley, so formally it is a grain whisky made from buckwheat. Ed Gwenn is made from barley, but is a single grain and not a single malt.
Where is the distillery?
In Plomelin, south-west of Quimper in Finistère, Brittany. The Le Lay family has been distilling there for five generations.
What is the difference between Silver and Grey Rock?
Silver is one hundred percent buckwheat. Grey Rock is a blend of barley whisky and buckwheat whisky and is therefore milder.
Can I collect these bottles in Bathmen?
Yes. You can always order online or collect at Brink 2, or simply walk in.
Order, collect or drop by
- In stock in our shop at Brink 2 in Bathmen
- Available to order online and have delivered, including abroad
- Order online or collect in Bathmen
- Personal advice via 0570 541 278 or info@bockje.nl
- Opening hours: Tuesday to Friday 09.00–18.00, Saturday 09.00–17.00. Closed Monday and Sunday
Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18.
All 4 bottles at a glance
Each bottle shows the details from the label.
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Brink 2, Bathmen
All our stock is in the shop, not in a warehouse somewhere else. If you walk in with a name you couldn't find anywhere, it is often simply here on the shelf. You can also call: 0570 541 278.
Wij verkopen geen alcohol aan personen onder de 18 jaar. NIX18
- Tuesday to Friday 09.00 – 18.00
- Saturday 09.00 – 17.00
- Monday and Sunday closed