Monthly tasting boxes
Three 5 cl whiskies to discover and taste with the Guild each month.
A private French-speaking club
A shared passion.
So much more to share.
La Guilde du Chardon brings together curious adults, enthusiasts and entrepreneurs at heart around whisky, the art of living and a shared adventure.
We taste, learn, travel and build together.
Membership benefits
What the Guild offers you, in practical terms.
New discoveries each month, regular gatherings and a community with which to experience whisky differently.
4 complimentary events a year
Four complimentary members-only gatherings each year.
Monthly whisky newsletter
A private newsletter covering the Guild’s discoveries, projects and whisky news.
Learning platform
Whisky content, replays and resources available at your own pace.
Online masterclass
An online masterclass every fortnight to learn, taste and ask your questions.
Creating our whiskies
Take part in tastings, decisions and the creation of the Guild’s whiskies.
Journeys
Journeys designed around whisky, distilleries and meeting people on location.
Priority access
Three to four days’ priority access to events, journeys and opportunities.
Professional network
Meet professionals from hotels, restaurants, bars and many other fields.
Private community and mutual support
Connect with fellow enthusiasts, share ideas and move projects forward together.
Sharing · Authenticity · Passion · Adventure
Whisky brings us together.
People remain at the heart of it.
Hervé created Le Chardon to share his passion for whisky and Scotland. The Guild carries this desire forward: moving from content we watch to experiences we live together.
Whether beginner or connoisseur, everyone can bring something to the conversation. Respect, curiosity and the desire to contribute matter more than the size of a collection.
Life in the Guild
Taste. Learn. Belong.
Taste
Monthly boxes are included with membership: three 5 cl whiskies to explore a selection and share impressions at our tasting gatherings.
Learn
Fortnightly Whisky Live sessions, masterclasses and conversations with enthusiasts and professionals. In French, with replays and resources so you can continue at your own pace.
Belong
A private circle where we gather, exchange ideas and support one another. Events, journeys and projects shaped by the interests and skills of our members.
A gathering centred on taste and the art of living
The same passion.
As many perspectives as palates.
Each month, members discover a selection of whiskies through specially curated boxes, events and masterclasses. Online gatherings offer a chance to discuss whisky, ask questions and forge connections.
Whisky is only the starting point. The Guild also explores every facet of the art of living, from cigars and wine to watchmaking and elegance.
A first achievement
The Founders’ Cuvée,
from idea to glass.
Twelve members gathered on Rue de Bellechasse to shape a direction with Benjamin Kuentz. A blind tasting of the blends then gave rise to the Guild’s first whisky.
Thirty-two names on the bottles: a truly collective creation.
Beyond tastings
A circle that plays its part
in the real world.
Gatherings, journeys and partners
Private tastings, gatherings at partner venues and journeys centred on whisky and the art of living. Maison Benjamin Kuentz, Whisky Lodge and Dark Kitchen are among the places where the Guild has gathered.
Programmes, terms of participation and partner benefits are set out for each experience. Journeys and certain events require a separate contribution.
Members supporting one another
The circle brings together a wealth of skills and backgrounds. Members share contacts, recommendations, ideas, and professional or creative opportunities.
When the Guild develops a project or seeks particular expertise, it looks first within its community.
Help shape decisions and creations
Take part in selections, share your expectations and contribute to bottling projects. Members’ ideas and votes shape our shared creations.
The Founders’ Cuvée is the first example: a whisky conceived with the members and Benjamin Kuentz.
Casks and collective projects
Go behind the scenes, join the conversation and explore cask-based bottling possibilities.
Each project is presented in the members’ space with its own terms and benefits. Membership does not automatically include participation in a cask.
Private news and access to projects
Discussion spaces and a private WhatsApp group, news from the Guild and the world of whisky, and updates on projects in development.
Members discover new initiatives and opportunities to contribute through the community.
A shared course
Looking further ahead,
without rushing the journey.
Develop the Guild’s independent bottlings and collective cask projects. Strengthen connections among members and with partners in France, Switzerland and beyond.
In the longer term, imagine our own places to gather: a private bar, a manor as a meeting place, then a community distillery. These are ambitions to build, not establishments already owned by the Guild.
Our independence and the involvement of our members give purpose to the journey.
A story of belonging
Founders, Pioneers, Companions,
Sentinels, Emissaries.
These names tell the story of the Guild’s foundation and growing reach. They measure neither a person’s worth nor their legitimacy within the circle.
Every member brings something different. The membership categories currently open and their terms are specified when joining.
Be part of the adventure
Join the Guild.
Find your community, discover the whiskies of the month and take part in conversations and projects.
Choose your payment schedule. The Guild’s Stripe pages show the prices and terms before you confirm.
A 5% loyalty discount after one year is planned for Guild memberships.
Adhésion annuelle
One annual payment. The annual plan includes the 10% discount offered by the Guild.
Le tarif, la périodicité et les modalités de l’adhésion sont présentés sur Stripe avant validation. Les achats de produits restent séparés de l’adhésion.
Gather together
The Guild calendar.
Fortnightly Whisky Live sessions and events organised as projects arise and wherever members are based. Details of each gathering appear in the calendar.
Before joining us
Questions you may have.
Do I need to know a lot about whisky already?
No. Beginners, enthusiasts and connoisseurs all come together in the Guild. Curiosity, respect and a desire to exchange ideas matter more than your level of knowledge.
How much time do I need to devote to it?
Everyone takes part at their own pace. You can attend the gatherings that interest you, watch the replays and become more involved in the projects that speak to you.
What if I miss a live session?
Replays let you catch up on the conversations, along with the accompanying learning resources. You can continue your discoveries at your own pace.
Can I join from abroad?
Online gatherings are in French. The community includes members in Switzerland and beyond. For the boxes, see the dedicated page for delivery destinations and terms.
What if I drink very little whisky?
The Guild invites you to understand, discover craftsmanship and meet people. How much you drink is not a condition of belonging.
Are there gatherings in person?
Yes: private tastings, partner evenings and gatherings among members are all part of life in the Guild. Journeys offer a chance to continue these conversations on location. You can also take part mainly online.
Where can I find the price and terms of my membership?
The applicable price appears on the Stripe page for your chosen plan before confirmation. If you have a question about your historic rate, retaining it, discounts or renewal, contact the Guild.
How do I manage or cancel my membership?
Your membership can be managed using the information you received when subscribing through Stripe. The Guild remains available to help and to confirm when cancellation takes effect for your plan.
Can I give a membership as a gift?
Contact the Guild and tell us who you would like to give it to, so we can prepare their welcome and agree the arrangements.
How can I contribute to the Guild’s projects?
By sharing your skills, contacts, ideas or time on the projects that speak to you. Any terms and potential benefits are defined for each project; membership is not a promise of financial return.
How is this different from the public videos?
Le Chardon shares videos, documentaries and conversations publicly. The Guild adds private conversations, included boxes, gatherings among members and participation in projects.
Why a community rather than one-off funding?
The Guild’s vision rests on people getting to know one another and taking part in lasting projects. The ambition is to build together, not to bring together isolated purchases.