Couvet (NE) · Val-de-Travers · Switzerland

Distillerie DistAB

Founded in 2005, DistAB carries forward a practice long shaped by clandestinity. Pierre-André Stauffer, drawing on decades of experience, passed on to his son Nicolas a craft rooted in the gestures and discipline of historic distillers.

Our Story

Distab was founded in 2005, when Pierre-André Stauffer, a former clandestine distiller, chose to bring his craft into the light by obtaining an official license. Long before legalization, the art had already been mastered, in discretion, patience, and loyalty to tradition.

The distillery is housed in the back room of a pharmacy in Couvet, a place deeply intertwined with the modern history of absinthe. It was here that Pierre-André, alongside other clandestine distillers, learned the gestures of the craft and sourced the plants essential to production. The walls still carry that memory.

In 2021, his son Nicolas took over the distillery, continuing a family legacy shaped by quiet determination and respect for the Valley’s spirit. Today, this singular setting remains a living link between past and present, a testament to absinthe’s enduring heritage in Val-de-Travers.

Savoir-faire

Nicolas distills in continuity with his father’s work, guided by a deep attachment to craftsmanship and local identity. Committed to reinforcing Distab’s roots in the region, he privileges the use of plants sourced as locally as possible, allowing the terroir of the Valley to express itself in each cuvée.

Distab’s creations explore several sensibilities: interpretations inspired by historical profiles, subtle tributes to the clandestine era, and more contemporary expressions that reflect a spirit of innovation. Alongside its absinthes, the distillery also produces eaux-de-vie, crafted with the same precision, patience, and respect for raw materials.

Faithful local connoisseurs remain at the heart of the house, drawn to its authenticity and consistency. And true to the tradition of transmission, Nicolas welcomes visitors into the distillery, sharing its history, its methods, and the quiet rigor behind each bottle.