Citadelle is quite different from other gins – smoothe, slightly sweet and complex with juniper and citrus notes. It also has a bit of a floral quality and a more mellow gin flavour with a clean finish.Its made from an original recipe dating back to 1771 created in Gt district of Dunkirk.
19 botanicals are used and they are Juniper, coriander, orange peel, cardamom, liqorice, cubeb pepper, savory, fennel, iris, cinnamon, violets, almonds, cassia bark, angelica root, grains of paradise, cumin, nutmeg, lemon rind and star anise.
Some say this gin shouldn´t be mixed but only sipped neat but i don´t agree, i think it mixes well and makes nice and fresh gin cocktails.Its smooth character lends itself very well to sipping too of course. Its triple distilled from wheat and spring water.
The gin i received is the regular Citadelle in a very beauitful blue bottle.There´s also a Citadelle Reserve which i haven`t tried yet, its the only gin that has been refined 6 months in old oak casks.Those i know who have tried it says it’s very nice.
I like Citadelle a lot, i like its smooth and mellow flavour with its citrus notes and as i happen to like light and fresh gin cocktails with a fruity flavor this gin is perfect for that so i continue on that route.
CARDAMOM G&T
2 oz Citadelle
0.5 oz bitter seville orange syrup
Juice of ½ fresh lime
2-3 dashes Bob´s cardamom bitters (may be subbed by a few muddled green cardamoms)
2-3 dashes Bob´s grapefruit bitters
Top with a cardamom “quick tonic” (steep crushed green cardamom in tonic one day and night – you won`t get much flavor but its there, subtle)
Shake over ice, strain and pour into a rocks glass with large ice cubes, top with cardamom tonic. Garnish with a lime wedge. (Or as in the picture, a cardamom leaf and liqorice stick)
The cardamom flavour in my glass was just enough, i got a very subtle flavour from the tonic which was helped with a few dashes of the cardamom bitters and together they created a pronounced cardamom aroma.
This G&T is really fresh.