Citadelle Intros 1st of New Excentriques Gin Family

Citadelle Gin Vive le Cornichonfeatures the famous French cornichon as one of the “botanicals” and is now available in select U.S. markets and bottled at 43.8% alcohol by volume (87.6 proof) for a suggested retail price of $29.99 (700ml).

Vive le Cornichon is distilled with Citadelle’s patented process of progressive infusion of juniper berries and 19 other botanicals, as well as cornichon pickles.  The cornichons infused in Citadelle Original’s aromatic base come from Maison Marc, a Burgundy-based family business that grows its Cucumis sativus without insecticides, herbicides or preservatives, and picks each one by hand.

Citadelle Vive le Cornichon is the first product to be produced in the new Citadelle Gin Distillery, designed by Alexandre Gabriel himself and entirely constructed by the château’s in-house team.

It is housed in a stone building at Château de Bonbonnet that dates from the 18th century. This enormous space had already housed a distillery in the 19th century before being transformed into a stable and then an ageing cellar.

Nine stills have a new home in this facility. Previously used for distillation of cognac, they are now exclusively dedicated to the production of Citadelle Gin. Built in the region more than 50 years ago, hammered and riveted by local craftsmen who actually signed their stills, making it possible to trace their unique history today. To accommodate the entire distillation system, huge cut-stone arches – some more than eight meters high – were built while preserving the original style of the building. The effect is that of a true “cathedral” of gin.

Opposite the new distillery, 2,500 juniper trees have been planted, all of which will soon be certified organic.