Les Marigots de Caplan: spirits inspired by Gaspésie’s terroir
Difficult times often create an opportunity to take stock and change direction. That is what happened to Joseph St-Denis-Boulanger, a Caplinois, and his partner, Laurie-Anne Cloutier, a Montréalaise, who sought refuge in Gaspésie to heal after the painful loss of their daughter at birth in 2018.
Building a distillery between Route 132 and the sea in Caplan and opening it to the public was the ambitious project undertaken by this new entrepreneurial couple. Distillerie des Marigots began producing whisky and gin in 2020.
This Gaspésie native and his Montréal-born partner, who fell in love with the region, both realized that it was now or never to pursue their dream: settling in Caplan and launching a craft distillery that showcased the flavours of the terroir. 
The name chosen for the venture also invites residents and tourists to enjoy life. The expression “courir ou aller au marigot” refers to fishermen who play hooky and retreat to a secluded cove to take it easy.
Joseph further developed his expertise through training at Seattle’s Copperworks distillery, enabling him to create a product that would appeal to the public while also earning recognition from connoisseurs. The result was Récif, a coastal gin. A whisky made from malted barley is currently ageing for release in 2025. 
A Charentais still is the centrepiece of production for these new Gaspésie spirits. “My aim was to focus on aroma and complexity of flavour in both my gin and my whisky. I wanted them to be rich, long on the finish and very distinctive, so I sought out the perfect equipment for that,” explains Mr. St-Denis-Boulanger.
From the outset, the couple had an idea of the building they wanted for the distillery, with the beauty and nobility of wood at the heart of their vision. “My partner and I are really into architecture, and we already knew we loved this kind of building: clean design and geometric lines made warm through the use of wood,” Joseph explains. By the owner’s own account, wood was the only option ever considered. 
The extensively glazed façade, the building’s signature feature, sits at the heart of the company logo and has also become the brand’s emblem. “The idea is that wherever you are in the distillery, you can see Baie-des-Chaleurs on one side and the still on the other,” says the owner, who is not a little proud of his building perched on a cliff overlooking the sea.
The master distiller at Distillerie des Marigots draws inspiration for his spirits from the Gaspésie landscape and strives to showcase the exceptional quality of its local ingredients. His approach brings to the fore the aromas and fragrances offered by his surroundings and by Gaspésie’s agricultural expertise. Alongside its two flagship products, Récif gin and whisky, the distillery also enjoys creating small experimental batches, including eaux-de-vie, herbal liqueurs and limited-edition gins.
Distillerie des Marigots
300, Boul. Perron Est
Caplan, QC
distilleriedesmarigots.com
(418) 388-2008