An unusual, complex gin made using a total of 23 casks, including barrels that previously held Cognac, Pineau des Charentes and Bourbon, among others. It has a light straw hue and gentle vanilla scent, opening smooth and sweet with hints of grapefruit peel, ginger and pink peppercorn zing, and a mellow fade marked by cinnamon, coriander, almond and coconut.
This is alright. Really fun and enticing nose, with a well balanced palate. The finish is a bit of a rough patch, but I would still say it is a pretty good gin.
Compared to its previous incarnations, the 2018 version of Citadelle Réserve is a bit more about the wood. It’s nicely integrated but the nose and finish are more about the five barrels than about the botanicals.
It has a light straw hue and gentle vanilla scent, opening smooth and sweet with hints of grapefruit peel, ginger and pink peppercorn zing, and a mellow fade marked by cinnamon, coriander, almond and coconut. Sip or mix.
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House Review
Nose:
Bright and crisp. Loads of pepper, slivered almond, rising bread, juniper and basil.
Taste:
Sweet and bread forward, lots of yeast, honey, cream and pepper. Hint of juniper citrus zest. Nice and balanced here, the heat is just right.
Finish:
Long finish, but intensely peppery and almost smoky. Hotter here than the palate, drinking quite a bit hotter than the ABV would lead you to expect.
Overall:
This is alright. Really fun and enticing nose, with a well balanced palate. The finish is a bit of a rough patch, but I would still say it is a pretty good gin.
Score:
80
By T8ke
Our in house critic rates spirits on a scale of 0-10 (10 best) and is aggregated the same as external sources
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