The Spirits Insider: Santé’s Exclusive Calvados Cask Adventure
- Emily Sampson
- Aug 7
- 6 min read
Santé Cocktail Bar X Christian Drouin.
The Story Behind Their First Calvados Cask.
Hidden away in Toowoomba's bustling heart, Santé Cocktail Bar is a little world of its own — a place where craft, creativity, and heartfelt hospitality meet. At the centre of it all are Alexandra Percy and Loic Mouchelin, partners in life and business, who have built something truly special.
Now, they add another milestone to their journey: selecting and bottling their very own Calvados cask from the legendary Christian Drouin distillery in Normandy.
We sat down with Alex and Loic to find out more about their story, their bar, and the spirit behind this exciting new release.
How would you describe Santé Cocktail Bar to someone who's never been?
Santé is home. It's where we spend all our time, where all our favourite bottles and artwork live, our books and keepsakes - it's the memories we've built in our time in Toowoomba and the stories we brought with us when we came here. We strive to create an ever-changing menu where every cocktail tells a story of place, season, tradition, and passion. Think moody lighting, delicate glassware & electro swing music.
What inspired you both to open a cocktail bar in Toowoomba?
We saw a real opportunity to bring something unique to Toowoomba—a space that celebrates the artistry of cocktails and spirits in a way that's world-class but still deeply personal. We wanted to create the kind of bar we love to spend time in, intimate, soulful, and full of heart.
What's the philosophy or feeling you want every guest to experience when they walk in?
A sense of discovery and belonging. Whether it's someone's first time sipping Calvados or they're a seasoned spirits enthusiast, we want every guest to feel welcomed, curious, and a little enchanted.
How do your different backgrounds (and personalities) influence the bar?
We're very different—one of us is more detail-driven and grounded, the other more spontaneous and creatively led—but it works. That dynamic balance is evident in everything from the drinks to the atmosphere: it's a true expression of us as individuals and as a team.
About the Calvados Cask
What made you want to select and bottle your own cask?
We're always looking for ways to deepen our connection to the spirits we serve. Bottling our own cask felt like the ultimate expression of that—to offer our guests something truly one-of-a-kind, with a story and flavour profile that's ours alone.
Why Christian Drouin — what drew you to their Calvados specifically?
Drouin embodies everything we admire in a producer: tradition, terroir, and uncompromising quality. Their Calvados has a layered, expressive character that beautifully bridges the fruit and oak notes. It's not just a drink—it's a journey through Normandy, which is also a visit to where Loic grew up & calls home.
What was the process like, from tasting to final selection?
Exciting, overwhelming & so much fun! We tasted through a range of casks with the Drouin team, paying attention to everything from aroma and mouthfeel to how it might work in a cocktail. We tried casks we could choose from & some we couldn't have, but they let us try anyway! When we found the one, we just knew.
What were you looking for in the cask you chose?
Complexity, balance, and soul. We wanted something that had structure and elegance, but also warmth—something that would speak both to purists and the cocktail curious.
Tell us about the specific cask you picked: what sets it apart?
Our Cask is a 5-year-old Calvados made 100% from apples. Aged 4.5 years in red wine cask from the Bordeaux region and then finished 6 months in Sauternes Cask (Botrytis Semillon). It is then bottled at Cask strength, 54.2%. Mighty, but the high ABV give it a very clean finish. We think, but might be a bit biased, that for that ABV and "young" age, it is a very well-balanced Calvados with a lot of depth and a nice touch of acidity with bright apples.
What was your first reaction when you tasted it?
We went with both our dads to taste the casks & honestly, we all knew! It was love at first taste, followed by a shared look that said, "This is it." We all agreed that while everything we tasted had its charm, this cask was Santé — like the spirit had a personality with which we instantly connected.
How do you showcase it at Santé? Neat, cocktails, special flights?
All of the above. We offer it neat, of course, but also in signature cocktails, notably the Homegrown, which won People's Drink of the Year & was ranked No.29 in the Boothby Drink of the Year Awards last year. We both agree that, more than any other drink, that cocktail lets the Calvados shine without overshadowing its character.
On Craft and Spirits
What does Calvados mean to you personally, as a spirit, as a story?
It's a spirit rooted in tradition, place, patience, and poetry. Calvados tells a quieter story than whisky or rum, but no less profound. It's about heritage, orchards, and time. For us, it's a love letter to tradition.
In a world of whisky and rum, why do you think Calvados deserves more attention?
Every spirit offers something special, but Calvados offers something different—elegance, fruit, and terroir in a way that's its own, and in a way that connects with us. It's a beautiful counterpoint to the bolder, more oak-driven spirits, and it's incredibly versatile in cocktails.
How important is it for you to work with artisan producers like Drouin?
It's essential. When you work with small, passionate producers, you're not just buying a bottle—you're sharing a story, a philosophy. That matters to us and our guests.
How do you balance innovation and tradition at Santé when it comes to your drinks?
By starting with respect. We honour the classics and the spirits themselves first, then we look for ways to add a twist or a surprise that feels authentic rather than gimmicky. Although there is sometimes a place for gimmicky things as well.
What's it like running a bar together as a couple?
It's a beautiful chaos! We constantly challenge and support one another. It's not always easy, but a deep trust and shared vision make it incredibly rewarding. I think it also helps that we stay in our sections! The floor belongs to Alex & the bar belongs to Loic, but neither can work without the other!
How do you split the creative and business sides between you?
We both have a say in the future we want to create with Santé, and our vision usually aligns with each other. We have different ways of getting there, and that's important for us to value each other's opinions and look at things from a perspective that isn't always our own.
Any "spirited debates" when it came to choosing the cask?
None, we knew straight away that we had found something special, something that tasted so at home between the barrels of Christian Drouin & would be just as familiar & special in Santé.
What's one thing each of you brings to the table that the other doesn't?
We balance each other, keep each other grounded and present, and constantly remind each other to focus on the good when things get overwhelming. We don't get overwhelmed by the same pressures, so it is good to have that balance between us; we both bring something different to the table every time we sit at it!
What's next for Santé?
We're currently working on a cocktail app that includes batching recipes to allow venues to constantly push the boundaries of what they can create in a fast-paced bar.
For now, it's classics and our signatures, but we hope to expand it and eventually feature recipes from bartenders and creators worldwide. It's a massive project, but one that is very exciting! We are always looking for new drinks, inspirations, and challenges, and we are constantly growing and remain curious.
Any dream projects or spirits you'd love to bring in next?
There are always plenty of projects we are thinking about… but one thing at a time. The Santé Cocktails app, as mentioned previously, is the big one on the way, so we will focus on that for now and then maybe move on to something else. And, of course, sharing our love of Calvados & making new Calva cocktails for our customers will, as always, be our "side hustle".
Now Pouring at Santé
The exclusive Christian Drouin Calvados Cask Bottling is now available to all bars and independent bottle shops. This is a one-off, hand-selected project — when it's gone, it's gone.
Drop in at Santé, share a glass, and raise a toast to craftsmanship, partnership, and a journey that started in Normandy and found a home in Toowoomba.
Visit Santé: www.santecocktailbar.com.au 14 Duggan Street, Toowoomba, QLD
ISSUE #1 | CERBACO 2025
