Michael Hepworth

CITADELLE RESERVE SOLERA GIN 2013

FIRST TO USE UNIQUE PROCESS

HOLLYWOOD(Spiritsman)5/23/14/–I was pleased to get the chance to try out the new release of this Citadelle Gin Especially since it is the first solera aged gin in the world. The French company Cognac Ferrand based in Ars, have been producing limited edition aged gins since 2008, and this is the only gin in the world distilled in pot stills over an open flame This edition of the gin is aged in a combination of casks, ex-Cognac, ex-Pineau des Charente casks and American oak casks. Solera is predominately used to age sherry, Madeira, Spanish Brandy and select rums.

Tasting it with Fever Tree tonic is a real delight with a vibrant and mellow taste, and I get the feeling that bartenders are going to love this gin, and at a RRP of $34.99 so will consumers. The gin is made in small batches and infused with 19 botanicals, and brand owner Alexandre Gabriel loves experimenting with wooden casks to bring outthe true flavor of the gin. This combination of blending and aging is called solera, and the complicated process involves putting Citadelle in three different casks for up to five months.

The ex-cognac casks are rinsed in gin at first to make sure that the cognac does not overpower the gin, and the ex-Pineau des Charentes impart a full bodied feel along with some spiciness to the overall picture.After the gin has aged sufficiently inn the casks, it is poured into the solera vat and then bottled. At all times the mother solera vat remains half empty in order to maintain the consistency in the taste.

The 2012 version of the Citadelle Reserve Gin actially added three fresh botanicals to the mix in the form of yuzu, genepi and bleuet (cornflower) and the spirit was aged for six months in aok casks.

For those into history Citadelle dates back to 1775 when Louis XV1 authorized two enterprising distillers to open up in Dunkirk. Stills eventually became bigger to increase production as demand grew especially in England, but to some degree precision and taste became compromised.

www.citadellegin.com