Citadelle’s seasonal releases — like these from Hendrick’s and others — are actually arriving at a daily clip. For 2022, Citadelle gives Citadelle Gin Juniper Décadence, which is an overt homage to, after all, the juniper tree. Not solely is it made with “a big portion” of its juniper sourced from Coganc, the place the distillery is predicated, it is usually aged in small barrels made out of juniper wooden. Botanicals within the combine are in any other case the identical as Citadelle’s customary bottling.
When you’ve ever seen a juniper tree, you already know that they’re fairly small, so let’s permit Citadelle clarify how one makes a barrel from the factor:
Because the juniper is a modestly sized tree, its wooden will not be appropriate for making lengthy, curved staves, as it’s too onerous to bend. Nevertheless it takes greater than that to stymie Alexandre’s inventive impulses, so particular small casks have been constructed with straight sides. These very particular barrels have been toasted to intensify the vegetal, minty and barely smoky facet of juniper wooden. Maturation in these barrels enhances Citadelle’s authentic recipe, with its progressive infusion of 19 botanicals, and heightens its notes of candy orange peel, which meld splendidly with juniper’s vegetal and smoky aroma. Naturally bursting with juniper, Citadelle Juniper Décadence stands out due to its herbaceous notes and placing freshness.
There’s a pale yellow coloration right here that confirms that the gin has seen some barrel time — although clearly not lots. Daring with juniper, the gin is a right away deep dive into evergreen notes, although they arrive throughout as frivolously smoky maybe as a result of barrel ageing. Hints of angelica and coriander are current, however nothing as outsized because the juniper correct. On the palate, no surprises: Extra juniper dominates, that smoky high quality turning into a bit extra sultry and earthy. Some notes of lemon peel give the end a spritz of fruit, with a contact of grapefruit and a spare melon be aware rising in a while. The general focus, nonetheless, stays squarely on piney juniper notes from begin to end, for higher or worse. Nothing unsuitable with it, however the expertise does are typically a bit of one-note in the long run. Whether or not it’s “decadent” or not is for the drinker to determine.
88.8 proof.
B+ / $35 (700ml) / citadellegin.com
Citadelle Gin Juniper Decadence
$35
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