What did you do before establishing Distillerie Fortemps de Loneux? I worked in Financial Services and Finance Direction, first in Spain and then in Luxembourg. But entrepreneurship has been calling my name since I was 17, when I started studying Management. After spending six years working long hours in front of a computer, I thought—why not work just as many hours (if not more!) for myself and on something I’m truly passionate about? And so, my gin journey began! What made you decide to open your own distillery? Coming from Belgium, I was all about beer as a student (yes, some clichés are true!). But I still remember the exact moment I fell in love with gin. I had just moved to Spain for my first job, and on a sunny rooftop in Madrid, I was handed a Gin & Tonic. One sip in, I said, “Oh my God, this is amazing!” That moment sparked my passion for gin, and soon I was tasting different varieties and growing my own collection. At the same time, I was fascinated by plants and their aromas. My mother gifted me a small workshop on plant distillation, and it seemed so simple! A few years later, I took a distillation training with a Master Distiller in France, where I learned about gin production and how to properly taste spirits. When I returned home, I started researching how to open my own distillery in Luxembourg. After a mountain of paperwork and approvals, I was finally ready to produce! Sounds simple when put in one sentence, but trust me, the process took 1.5 years and was a real emotional rollercoaster.
What was the inspiration behind Entre Nous Gin? The idea behind my gin was to create something unique in Luxembourg. At the time, most gins here were made by only a few distilleries, with a strong citrus profile and little transparency on ingredients. I, on the other hand, am a huge fan of Western (floral) Dry Gins, so that’s what I wanted to create. My parents help me grow botanicals on their land, which I hand-pick and incorporate into my gins. In the first year, I produced only limited editions based on botanical availability, allowing me to experiment before finalizing my signature recipe. While not all ingredients can be hand-picked due to quantity constraints, everything I use is 100% natural—no artificial aromas or added sugar. A fun fact about my signature gin: I wanted it to be a collaborative creation, so I launched a small campaign in Luxembourg. In total, 140 people contributed in some way - whether by selecting botanicals, tasting samples, or voting for the label - before we finalized the recipe! What is the meaning and story behind the Entre Nous Gin name? Finding an original name that wasn’t already taken was a real challenge! I initially came up with a list of about 15 names and asked my friends to vote. I also wanted to ensure the name conveyed the right message, and that’s how “Entre Nous” (which means “Between Us” or “Among Us”) was chosen! I wanted my brand to reflect intimate moments shared with friends and family over a great drink. The COVID-19 pandemic also played a role - during lockdown in Luxembourg, we had to choose a circle of 10 people to socialize with, making those moments even more special. It felt like sharing a secret, which ties perfectly into the meaning of “Entre Nous.”
Can you tell us more about your distillery and your still? My distillery is based in my home basement, which I transformed into a dedicated production space. Everything from distillation to bottling and labelling happens here. It’s not the most convenient setup - carrying bottles up and down the stairs isn’t exactly fun! But finding commercial space in Luxembourg is tough and expensive, so for now, I’m grateful to have all the necessary approvals to operate as a micro-distillery. If production grows, I’ll need to move to a larger, more accessible space. My still is a 250L full copper pot still. When choosing a still, I had to consider three key factors:
Can you tell us more about your distillation process? I macerate all my botanicals in neutral grain spirit for several days before distillation. Some of the botanicals, like lavender, rosemary, thyme, and part of the elderflower, are hand-picked by me. I’m also extremely meticulous when it comes to heads and tails cuts - if I have any doubts about the taste, I leave them out. I prefer quality over quantity! All my gins are dry gins, meaning nothing is added after distillation except water to adjust the alcohol level. This requires precision and consistency in every batch. One distillation takes about 8 hours, yielding around 225L of gin per run. Do you offer any distillery tours and experiences? Right now, I don’t offer regular tours (or exceptionally on demand), but I do run workshops!
What is your ambition for your Entre Nous Gin in the years to come?
I want to introduce more people to premium craft gin, whether for special occasions like weddings and birthdays or just a casual Friday night with friends. I also want to collaborate with establishments that value high-quality products and unique offerings. We’re already working with some Gault & Millau restaurants in Luxembourg, and I’d love to build similar partnerships internationally. What are your favourite ways to drink Entre Nous Gin? I’m getting used to drinking it neat (mostly for tasting purposes), but when I’m enjoying a drink with friends, I always go for a classic G&T with the biggest ice cubes I can find and a neutral Tonic Water. I also love adding a touch of elderflower liqueur to my original gin! Desert Island Gins: Which 3 gins would you take with you and why? Oof, tough question—there are so many gins I still need to try! But if I had to pick:
So many exciting things coming up!
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