Mr Gilet was the last traveling distiller, he stopped his activity in 1994. The town of Sainte-Gemmes sur Loire had the still restored and installed on the slipway of Port-Thibault in July 2006.
The still is an Arab invention from the 10th century (Al Anbiq: distillation vessel). It allows the manufacture of brandy by distillation of pears, plums or all kinds of other fruits or grape marc, previously fermented or boiled.
The manufacturer of brandy is called "Bouilleur de cru" hence the name "Bouille" given in our region to the still.
The profession of distiller was practiced in Sainte-Gemmes sur Loire by the Gilet family since 1840.
Its main activity was for a long time cooperage, due to the numerous wine growers in the commune (nearly 150).
Phylloxera destroyed part of the vines and Mr Gilet abandoned cooperage in favor of distillation.
The town hall fixed a place to place the traveling still, for a long time it was the Cale de Port-Thibault. The raw distiller could distill from October 1 to June 30, sometimes until August 15.
Holders of the privilege of boiling (a right transferable from father to son until 1959) could have 20 liters of brandy distilled at 50° (William pear and Sainte Catherine plum were reputed to make the best brandies).
Production was strictly controlled. It was forbidden to change a part of the still without authorization from the Indirect Tax department.