François Thibault is a French Maître de Chai (Cellar Master) from Cognac.
He trained to become a Maître de Chai at a fairly young age, in the regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy.
Thibault created the original recipe for Grey Goose, using ingredients found in a region recommended to him by French pastry chefs.
[2][3] He has remained the cellar master for Grey Goose since its founding, and supervises all aspects of the vodka's production.
[5] In 2013 he was featured in a Grey Goose ad that focuses on the initial controversy of making vodka as a Maître de Chai, and the eventual acceptance of the practice in France.