• The expertise of a family of craft distillers and creators of vintage calvados lies behind the creation of a Gin for connoisseurs.
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    As head of the Calvados Christian Drouin company, Guillaume Drouin represents the third generation of a family that has always been fascinated by the search for a perfect balance between different aromas and flavours.

    Guillaume Drouin is a quali ed oenologist and agronomist. After acquiring experience in the elds of wine-making and rum he joined the family business in 2004. Working with his father on the aging of calvados, he took part in the creation of the company's great blends while looking for new product ranges that would highlight original aromatic associations.

    Guillaume is a man full of curiosity and enthusiasm. His passion for the world of avours, tasting and the art of blending soon led him towards a new creation, that of a Gin based on the apples from his orchards. Thanks to its method of production and the number of aromatic substances that compose it, this Gin is without any doubt the spirit that offers the broadest possible spectre of composition: an almost in nite eld for creativity, a challenge both rich and fascinating in the search for symbiosis between apples, juniper and aromatics of world-wide origin.
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    Even before he began to sell his calvados, Christian Drouin the elder was in the habit of entering samples of his vintages in the wine and spirit competitions in Normandy and Paris. It was here that he won his first medals. Two generations later the company can display 195 Gold Medals obtained in such competitions, including the Best European Spirits Producer title at the IWSC in London in 2013.
    Guillaume Drouin Gin Christian Drouin
  • Bouteille Gin Christian Drouin

    Why creating a Gin ?

    The use of Calvados has been developing in cocktail bars for a few years now. This has made Guillaume Drouin discover a new universe as well as spirits that he had but seldom tasted before. The world of Gin with its complexity and its almost infinite possibilities has made him eager to know more.

    How is Gin produced? What are the criteria used to fix the worth of its quality? How can one create balance in a spirit made of such different, sometimes even antagonistic flavors? And, last but not least, could he manage to produce a great Gin based on the apples of his orchards, a Gin that he would be proud of signing with his name?

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    A Gin incorporating more than 30 different varieties of apples

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    Guillaume had to find seasoning that would best balance, complete and enhance juniper and cider apple. After distilling separately numerous plants, in the same way as a great blend is assembled, a final selection of 8 plants was made, all of them, with the exception of juniper, belonging to the aroma universe of premium Calvados. Creating harmony among these 8 aromas was the next step, then adjusting the recipe and at last understanding that our work process would enable us only to create « small batches » as the one plant at a time distillation process imposes to keep adjusting proportions so as to obtain the best possible blend.

    Here then is the first batch of Gin he produced, the only Gin incorporating 30 apple varieties and 8 different aromatics. Each aromatic is separately distilled before being blended in proportions that are unique to each batch.

    Rose and lemon provide delicacy. Ginger, vanilla, cinnamon and almond give the Gin a smooth, spicy body while cardamom enhances its fruit and roundness in the mouth. Juniper and apple complement one another with their heavy or high notes, spicy or crisp.
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    Discover the 8 Aromaties
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    Christian Drouin Gin is based on a neutral spirit aromatised with distilled apple cider. The distillate comes from more than 30 different cider apple varieties. Bitter, bitter-sweet, sweet and tart varieties are all represented, forming a rich, complex aromatic palette. In the autumn the apples are grated and pressed. The must obtained ferments slowly during the cold winter months and is then double-distilled in small copper pot stills the following year. The cider spirit obtained in this way gives Christian Drouin Gin its roundness and delicacy, and also its crispness Cider spirit is well known for its digestive properties.

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    • Juniper Berries Gin Christian Drouin
      Juniper Berries
      Juniper Berries
      Juniper is the dominant aromatic in Gin. In order to ensure that Christian Drouin Gin remains supple, with no harshness, it is again double-distilled after macerating. Juniper is reputed for its diuretic, antiasthmatic and digestive properties.
    • Brazilian Ginger Gin Christian Drouin
      Brazilian Ginger
      Brazilian Ginger
      The ginger used comes from Brazil. Its flavour is a perfect ally for that of the apples, adding its own spicy notes. For additional roundness it is again doubledistilled after macerating. Ginger is well known as an anti-emetic (it can be used to combat nausea) and an anti-asthmatic; also as an aphrodisiac!
    • Madagascar Vanilla Gin Christian Drouin
      Madagascar Vanilla
      Madagascar Vanilla
      Guillaume Drouin uses Bourbon vanilla from Madagascar which adds its sweet, sugary flavour to the aromatic palette of the Gin. The vanilla is macerated then re-distilled. Vanilla is known as a relaxing agent and an aphrodisiac.
    • Lemon Gin Christian Drouin
      Lemon
      Lemon
      Macerated re-distilled lemon zest brings liveliness and freshness to the Gin. It is said that lemon helps keep the blood circulating!
    • Cardamon Gin Christian Drouin
      Cardamon
      Cardamon
      Macerated re-distilled cardamom seeds add roundness and fruity aromas to the Gin, helping to make it a supple, generous spirit. Cardamom is known for its digestive, antiinfectious and energizing qualities.
    • Indonesian Cinnamon Gin Christian Drouin
      Indonesian Cinnamon
      Indonesian Cinnamon
      Ground to powder, macerated and double-distilled, cinnamon adds its characteristic aroma that is so often associated with that of apples in pastries. Cinnamon is a well-known antiseptic and antispasmodic agent.
    • Almonds Gin Christian Drouin
      Almonds
      Almonds
      Blanched almonds are crushed and roasted before being macerated and distilled. They add woody, slightly toasted notes to the Gin Almonds possess recognized anti-oxidant properties.
    • Rose Gin Christian Drouin
      Rose
      Rose
      For its elegance and the heady nature of its fragrance, rose is a discreet but essential note in the recipe of the Gin Rose is known as a relaxing agent and an aphrodisiac.
  • Bouteille Gin Christian Drouin

    Le Gin de Christian Drouin, Calvados Cask Finish

    Based on its experience for aging Eau de Vie, the Drouin family has decided to age a limited volume of its Gin.

    A few former calvados casks of 225 liters have been selected to age Le Gin de Christian Drouin.

    After 1 year in the casks, "Le Gin de Christian Drouin calvados cask finish" is rounder, more complexe, with even more obvious apple flavors.

  • Bouteille Gin Christian Drouin

    Le Gin de Christian Drouin,

    Carmina

    Christian Drouin Estate continue to explore new combinations of flavours.

    After the launch of Le Gin de Christian Douin in 2015, the only gin made from more than 30 varieties of cider apples and 7 herbs selected for their perfect combination of apple and juniper aromas, Guillaume Drouin has created a new blend dedicated to red fruits.

    Carmina is made with the same principles as the original version of Le Gin; each botanical or fruit is macerated and redistilled separately in order to optimise the extraction of aromas. The distillates are then blended before bottling. This time the bouquet is summery. It combines flowers and fruit with the use of raspberry, blackcurrant, elderflower, vanilla, lemon and orange in addition to juniper and cider apple varieties from Normandy. .

    Carmina's packaging retains the identity of Christian Drouin's Le Gin, but with a carmine red colour code, reminding us of the aromatic dominance of this new Gin, which offers delicious notes of raspberry and blackcurrant! .

    To be enjoyed neat or as a Gin tonic, with a slice of lemon and raspberry topping.

  • Bouteille Gin Christian Drouin

    Le Gin de Christian Drouin,

    Pira

    Pira is a new Gin recipe designed by Drouin, a product resulting from our explorations on the theme of Normandy flavours. 

    This new gin has a new star ingredient: pear. We have blended a variety of pear traditionally used to make pear cider in Normandy, known as Domfront, with juniper, vanilla, lemon, black pepper and iris root. A typical Norman cottage will have irises growing along the ridge of the thatched roof.
    Pira is crafted according to our original gin recipe, in which each ingredient is macerated and distilled separately in order to extract the full aroma. The distillates are then assembled just before bottling.

    "Alongside apples, pears are typical of Normandy. In Pays d'Auge, pear trees mostly line apple orchards.
    They can grow up to 15 metres tall, with deep roots, and thus act as excellent wind-breakers for the more fragile apple trees. Pear trees can live for up to 300 years in Normandy. Cider pears are small, and have a subtle flavour, with an acid tang and a taste of tannin. With Pira, I wanted to explore this fruit's possibilities, using a variety of pear typical of the region: Domfront."

  • How best to appreciate Christian Drouin Gin ?

    Christian Drouin Gin is prepared like any great blended spirit. The perfect proportions of each ingredient, its balance,
    its elegance and its complexity allow it to be drunk straight or with ice. This is without doubt the best way to appreciate the subtlety and delicacy of its savours.

    • Gin & Tonic
      The most traditional way of drinking
      Gin is certainly as Gin & Tonic. This
      can be prepared in many different ways.
      We recommend using a large balloon
      glass filled with ice, and adding two thin
      slices of freshly-cut apple, and possibly a
      thin slice of ginger, to the Gin and Tonic.
    • Gin Fizz
      Another classic, prepared in
      a Shaker.
      Christian Drouin Gin: 6cl
      Lemon juice : 4cl
      Cane sugar syrup: 2cl
      Sparkling water: 12cl
      Decorate with a slice of
      apple.
    • Angel Face
      a recipe created in 1928 as a tribute to the
      French actress Annabella: In a Shaker.
       
      Christian Drouin Gin: 3cl
      Calvados Sélection Christian Drouin: 3cl
      Apricot liqueur: 3cl
       
      You can also prepare a version of this cocktail as a long drink:
      Christian Drouin Gin: 2cl
      Calvados Sélection Christian Drouin: 3cl
      Apricot liqueur: 3 cl
      Top up the glass with Christian Drouin Poiré
    Bottle Drouin Gin
    Verre Drouin Gin