Beehive is a French brandy brand with over 170 years of history, founded in 1852 by two entrepreneurs from Bordeaux — Edouard Adet and Gustave Curcier. Today it is produced under the supervision of a master blender from Maison Bardinet, one of the most experienced French spirits producers. The distinctive bottle shaped like a beehive has been the brand's trademark since its very beginning. From Bordeaux to the ends of the earth The history of Beehive began with a voyage — Adet and Curcier chartered a ship loaded with brandy from Bordeaux and sailed to Australia during the gold rush. Their brandy quickly gained popularity not only in Australia, but also in India and Africa. The commercial success was so significant that Adet was appointed acting French consul in 1858, and in 1876 received the title of Knight of the Legion of Honor for his services to French trade. Originally the brandy was called "La Ruche" (French for beehive). English-speaking consumers, seeing the beehive on the label, began simply calling it "Beehive" — and that name stuck permanently. French tradition in a bottle Beehive is made from selected grapes, and distillation takes place in both pot stills (alembics) and column stills. The resulting eaux-de-vie — young grape distillates — mature in oak barrels and are then blended by the master blender into the final blend. This combination of two distillation methods gives the brandy a complex profile — the pot still contributes depth and fruitiness, the column — lightness and purity. The Beehive Collection The brand's range includes several editions: Beehive VSOP, Beehive XO, Beehive Honey (brandy with added honey), and the limited edition Beehive XO 170th Anniversary — a blend of the original XO with 15-year-old eaux-de-vie, released to mark the brand's 170th anniversary.