Francisco Tonarely is Co-Founder, President & CEO of Distillier LLC Grand Brulot, VSOP Cognac & Café Liqueur. Grand Brulot is handcrafted by the Tardy family on their estate located in the Cognac region of France. This process adheres to a rich French tradition, resulting in a unique and masterful infusion of premium VSOP Cognac with rich robusta coffee.
As the first ultra-premium French VSOP Cognac 80 proof coffee spirit, made in France, Grand Brulot revives an over two-hundred year old French tradition where rich coffee was blended with Cognac to create an exquisite tasting drink: The Brulôt. As a result of the company’s attention to detail and respect of French heritage, Grand Brulot has become a staple at some of the best restaurants in the US and globally, and has been featured in the New York Times, Haute Living, and Cigar Aficionado, as well as numerous websites devoted to the spirits and restaurants industries.
Francisco has over 30 years of executive management and entrepreneurial experience in the US, Europe, and Latin America. His extensive experience spans the consumer goods industry, with a focus on specialty foods and spirits. Notably, he served as a US Consultant for MEC3, a global leader in the production of ingredients for gelato and pastries. MEC3 operates in more than 150 countries around the world. Francisco has also held numerous high-level management positions with other industry-leading companies, including Stock Spirits Group USA, Seagram Spirits and Wine Group, Bacardi International and Brand Equity Partners Inc.
He has also served on the Board of Directors of Triple S Management, a health services and insurance company, with appointments to its Compensation Committee and the Nominations & Governance Committee. Francisco also served on the Board of the National Association of Corporate Directors (NACD)
Francisco earned a BS in Business, Marketing and BBA in Marketing and Management from Fairfield University.
