Known as the capital of French gastronomy, the city of Lyon hosts one of the most prestigious tasting competitions in the world: the Concours International de Lyon. Every year, a demanding panel of experts and passionate enthusiasts gather to blind-taste and judge thousands of wines, beers, and spirits from all across the globe.
This year’s 2026 edition just wrapped up, and the “Pastis” category was fiercely contested. Unlike some competitions where pastis gets lost in a sea of other liqueurs, the Concours de Lyon takes its anise-flavored spirits seriously.
Here are the standout pastis that triumphed at the Concours International de Lyon 2026!
Pastis Aveyronnais 🥇
Hailing from the Aveyron region, the historic Marius Bonal distillery has been crafting traditional liqueurs for over a century. Their Pastis Aveyronnais strikes a beautiful balance of authentic flavors. Taking home a Gold medal this year is a testament to their enduring expertise and mastery of anise distillation.
Pastis d’Ardèche 🥇
Also securing a well-deserved Gold medal in 2026 is the Pastis d’Ardèche from Distillerie la Frap. This recognition marks them as one of the standout French spirits of the year, winning over the judges’ palates with an impeccable flavor profile.
Pastis pas de Soleil 🥈
Who says great pastis only comes from France? Belgium makes a triumphant appearance on the leaderboard this year! Distillerie Gervin, an artisanal Belgian distillery, secured a Silver medal with their brilliantly named Pastis pas de Soleil. It’s a fantastic reminder of how the love and craft of anise spirits cross borders.
Pastis 13 Desserts 🥈
A beautiful nod to the traditional Provençal Christmas custom of the “13 Desserts”. This Pastis by the newly created Distillerie des Alpilles captures the essence of Southern French heritage and clearly delivered enough aromatic complexity to earn a Silver medal from the judges. Check out our dedicated article!
Pastis le Pierrot 🥈
Another fantastic French entry strong in licorice, Pastis le Pierrot, proved its worth in the tasting room. Taking home a Silver medal, it stands tall among the best anise-flavored spirits of 2026.
Pastis Canisard 🥈
Rounding out the Silver medals is the Pastis Canisard, yet another proud representative of French pastis craftsmanship from the Distillerie des Camisards. Earning a spot on this prestigious list is no small feat and makes this a bottle worth seeking out.
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