In 1866, two brothers, Pallade and Simon Violet from Thuir, a small village in the South of France, invented a new aperitif initially used for its medicinal benefits. This mysterious beverage was widely distributed in French pharmacies and gradually became a feature in bistrots. This was the beginning of an incredible story going through the "Belle Époque" (1890s - 1910s) and the "Annees folles" (1920s). The popularity of Byrrh was boosted by extensive advertising campaigns. By 1935 it was the leading aperitif brand in France, with annual sales of 35 million litres. Byrrh is a premium aperitif with high aromatic complexity, which has strongly contributed to the tradition of the French aperitif. Byrrh is still produced in the original production facility in Thuir, created in 1873 and designed by Gustave Eiffel.