About Citadelle Reserve Gin (700 ml)

Alcohol by Volume (ABV): 44%

Country of origin: France

Bottle size: 700 ml

Citadelle Réserve Gin is an oak-matured gin, aged in Cognac (and other) barrels for six to eight months. Since 2008, Alexandre Gabriel has released a limited edition of aged gin each year and up until 2013 tinkered with the recipe ever so slightly, giving each vintage till then its own unique taste profile. For the Réserve, yuzu (citrus fruit), blueberries and génépi are added to the 19 original botanicals contained in the Maison Ferrand signature Citadelle Gin. Since 2013, Gabriel has used the Solera process to barrel-age his Réserve. The barrel-aging occurs in barrels of chestnut, acacia and wild cherry wood and in old cognac and pineau barrels. (Pineau is an aperitif made from unfermented grape juice and brandy.)

Solera Aging Process: The process is most frequently used for sherry, Madeira, Marsala; balsamic vinegars; Spanish brandy; and rums. The Solera aging method used for Citadelle is an intensive process of putting the signature Citadelle Gin into different casks for anywhere from 2 to 5 months and includes American oak casks (to impart a touch of vanilla sweetness) and casks that once held Pineau de Charente (for a full-bodied, flowery roundness) and Brandy (to “impart elegance”). Once the gin has spent some time in casks, a portion of gin from each cask is moved into a large vat for blending, and new gin is used to top up the remaining gin in each cask. Again, after aging for a specified period, the process of taking some of the aged gin out to be blended and adding new gin to the casks starts all over again. This is how a Solera process works. As it’s an ongoing process, the aged Citadelle Réserve is no longer a ‘vintage’ product since 2013, however the taste profile is more consistent and refined.

Tasting notes: 
Bouquet: The Réserve has a bouquet of fresh and spicy aromas, notes of white flowers, white pepper, chalk, capers and citrus fruits. 

Palate / Finish: On the palate, the subtle, fine taste of candied citrus fruits, vanilla, flowers, cinnamon and wood develop gradually, with finesse on the finish.
 
About Maison Ferrand: Maison Ferrand is the result of the encounter in 1989 between Alexandre Gabriel and one of the oldest winegrowing families in the Cognac region of France. Alexandre Gabriel’s intention was to breathe new life into the Ferrand cognacs and make it the world’s best cognac. He wanted to maintain age-old, craft-based production methods which were worlds apart from mass production techniques, and sought to bring back to market the true expression of Grande Champagne’s – known as Cognac’s finest region – the great terroir. Maison Ferrand distributes fine spirits to more than 40 countries.