Citadelle Gin (44%)

Citadelle is a gin from the Cognac region, made by Maison Ferrand under Alexandre Gabriel. Cognac rules forbid distilling between April and October, and he spent a long time winning permission to use that idle period for gin. The committee gave way in 1996, and the gin takes its name from a fortress at Dunkirk where genever was once made. The nose is fresh and elegant, with juniper, violets and lemon. The palate is crisp and harmonious, with orange peel, coriander seed and cardamom. It is made with gin and tonic in mind: one part gin to three of tonic, with fresh lemon peel.