Alain Royer, 6th generation of a Cognac family, born in Bordeaux, raised in Cognac, educated at the Sorbonne in Paris, has been involved all his life in the making and promoting of Cognac. After 10 years in the family company, was instrumental in the creation of the Lafite Rothschild Cognac and Armagnac and the founder of A de Fussigny. Master blender, he now working as VP Development for the Cointreau family within the Renaud-Cointreau group owners of some 700 acres of vineyards in the heart of Grande Champagne and also for the Pages Védrenne company, leaders in liqueur and cordials out of Nuits Saint Georges. Cross cultural passion for brown spirits lead him to work with the late Booker Noe at Jim Beam, Parker Beam at Heaven Hill, and also more recently with Drew Kulsveen from Willet Distillery, with more to come.