Citadelle Gin Reserve Solera 2013

For the past five years, Citadelle’s Master Distiller Alexandre Gabriel has experimented with a vintage barrel aged gin. With each successive version, he changed either the botanicals used, the proof, or the char of the barrel. This latest creation outdoes them all. Using the solera method of aging, the gin is rested in three different types of barrels (American Oak, ex-brandy and ex-Pineau de Charente), blended with new gin and then aged again. Finally, some product is removed from the barrel to be bottled, and more new gin is added to the remainder. This goes on indefinitely and typifies the solera style.

As of today, Citadelle is the only gin distiller using this method. But don’t worry about not being able to find this gin next year. The good news is that the company is committed to making the product on an ongoing basis for the foreseeable future. In other words, this version is not a limited edition!

For more information about the unaged version of Citadelle, see our previous review here.

Citadelle Reserve Solera 2013 Gin (88 proof)
Visual: The slightest pale gold.
Nose: Juniper berries, followed by some citrus and slight woodiness.
Taste: Immediate juniper smoothed out and creamy with notes of vanilla and fresh sweet herbs. The whole is tempered to a lovely spirit where any rough edges have been replaced with warm and round flavors.
Finish: Medium long, with wood tones and citrus lingering on the tongue for a good while.
Overall: The mouthfeel is amazing and there is a lot of body to this gin that is unlike either the Plymouth style or Dutch genever. Just outstanding. This will make any cocktail wake up!
GSN Rating: A+

For more information go to: Citadelle

Serrallés USA and Brooklyn-based Barrow’s Intense Ginger Liqueur have formed a new U.S. sales and marketing partnership. The 22%-abv ginger liqueur will join Serrallés USA’s portfolio, which includes Don Q, Caliche Rum, Palo Viejo, Death’s Door Spirits, Wondermint and Kringle Cream Liqueur. Beginning in April and May, the rollout will focus on markets in the Northeast, with Southern Wine & Spirits distributing the product in New York, Fedway in New Jersey, Brescome Barton, Inc. in Connecticut and M.S. Walker in Massachusetts and New Hampshire. Rhode Island, Pennsylvania, Washington, D.C. and Maryland will follow later this year and national distribution is expected in 2015. Barrow’s retails for about $31.99 a 750-ml. and $19.99 a 375-ml.

Diageo has partnered with global soccer icon David Beckham and entrepreneur Simon Fuller for the worldwide launch of Haig Club Single Grain Scotch Whisky. Produced by House of Haig, one of Scotland’s oldest grain whisky makers, Haig Club is crafted by combining grain from three cask types for a smooth taste the company hopes will draw in new consumers of whisky as well as current whisky drinkers. Along with Haig Club, House of Haig also produces the Haig Blended Scotch and Dimple Scotch whiskies.

Beam Inc. is releasing the latest expression of Sauza Tequila’s ready-to-serve Sparkling Margarita range, Sauza Sparkling Margarita Watermelon. Following last year’s successful launch of the Sparkling line—which includes Original Lime, Wild Berry and Mango Peach—Watermelon will launch this month with a suggested retail price of $12.99 a 750-ml. The 9.95%-abv extensions use Sauza Silver Tequila for a base that is complemented by Triple Sec and made sparkling.

Agave Loco’s RumChata cream liqueur brand has launched its new RumChata Summer Iced Coffee Sampler Pack nationwide. The pack, which includes two 8-ounce cans of Casa del Sol coffee and a 750-ml. bottle of RumChata, provides the ingredients needed to make a RumChata iced coffee cocktail. The RumChata Summer Iced Coffee Sampler Pack is priced at around $19.95, in line with a regular 750-ml. of RumChata.

Cognac Ferrand is debuting the Citadelle Gin Reserve Solera 2013 to the U.S. market this month. The French company’s latest release from its gin range is aged in three different casks for between two and five months and is then poured into a main solera vat before being bottled to achieve solera aging, the first gin to be produced in this method, according to the company. The casks used are ex-Cognac, ex-Pineau des Charente and American oak casks. The 44%-abv Citadelle Gin Solera Vintage 2013 is available nationwide in the U.S. for a suggested retail price of $34.99 a 750-ml.