Cognac, France
Thibault grew up in Cognac, France where his father was a wine-grower. He trained to become a "Maître de Chai" at a fairly young age, in the regions of Bordeaux and Burgundy. He officially received the title in 1992. After his studies he worked for cognac distilleries in Cognac, including H. Mounier. One of his clients was Sidney Frank, who imported liquor from Europe into the United States, for which Thibault created the cognac Jacques Cardin along with other cognacs and brandies.