Citadelle Gin 1.75L

Citadelle Gin 1.75L is a 44% ABV French gin distilled from wheat spirit with 19 botanicals in traditional cognac copper pot stills. Winner of a Master Medal at the 2025 Gin Masters — the competition's highest distinction — it stands among the most critically acclaimed London Dry-style gins produced outside of England.

Quick Facts: ABV: 44% (88 proof)  |  Origin: Southwest France, Cognac Region  |  Style: London Dry  |  Distillery: Maison Ferrand

Production & Heritage

Citadelle is produced by Maison Ferrand, a Cognac house founded by Alexandre Gabriel, at their distillery in southwest France near the town of Cognac. What makes this gin unusual is that it is distilled in small copper pot stills traditionally reserved for Cognac production — a practice that required five years of negotiations with French authorities to obtain AOC authorization, as gin distillation in the Cognac region was initially prohibited. The neutral wheat spirit base undergoes a three-day maceration with all 19 botanicals before a single open-flame pot still distillation, a slower and more labor-intensive process than the column stills used by most large-scale gin producers. This method yields a spirit with greater texture and botanical depth than industrial alternatives.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Juniper arrives first and stays dominant, followed by fragrant coriander, honeysuckle, and peppery grains of paradise. A fruity layer of orange peel and a suggestion of ripe mango rounds out the nose, giving it an inviting complexity beyond a typical juniper-forward gin.

Taste: The entry is fresh and clean with a slightly off-dry impression. Piney juniper and bright citrus command the mid-palate, while cracked black pepper notes emerge quickly and add a savory backbone. The 44% ABV provides enough structure to carry the full range of botanicals without any harsh alcohol burn.

Finish: Medium-length and clean, with lingering spiced pepper, juniper, and orange zest. Subtle warmth from nutmeg and cinnamon surfaces on the fade, rewarding slow sipping.

How to Drink Citadelle

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the best way to appreciate the full botanical spectrum — the slight dilution opens up the more exotic spice notes. This gin's versatility in cocktails is one of its strongest attributes. In a classic Gin & Tonic, the 19 botanicals create a more layered, aromatic drink than most competitors; use a Mediterranean-style tonic and an orange peel garnish. A French 75 plays to Citadelle's French origins and lets the citrus and floral notes complement the Champagne beautifully. In a Negroni, the peppery spice and juniper backbone stand up to Campari without being overpowered, producing a more nuanced bittersweet balance.

Best For

• Stocking a home bar for frequent gin cocktail preparation — the 1.75L format is ideal for high-volume use
• Hosting cocktail parties or gatherings where a versatile, crowd-pleasing gin is needed
• Gin enthusiasts exploring French-produced alternatives to British London Dry expressions
• Bartenders and mixologists seeking a well-structured gin with enough botanical complexity for creative builds

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Citadelle taste like? Citadelle is juniper-forward with prominent citrus and cracked black pepper, underpinned by warm baking spices like nutmeg and cinnamon from its 19-botanical recipe. The overall impression is clean, aromatic, and moderately spicy with a dry finish.

How does Citadelle compare to Bombay Sapphire? Both gins are credited with reviving premium gin's popularity, but Citadelle uses 19 botanicals (versus Bombay Sapphire's 10) and is pot-distilled in Cognac stills rather than vapor-infused through a column process. The result is a noticeably richer texture and more pronounced spice character in Citadelle, while Bombay Sapphire tends toward a lighter, more floral profile.

Is Citadelle good for cocktails? Citadelle is exceptionally well-suited for cocktails — its 44% ABV and complex botanical profile hold up in stirred drinks like a Negroni and shine in shaken serves like a French 75 or Gimlet.

Where is Citadelle made? Citadelle is distilled at the Maison Ferrand distillery in southwest France, in the heart of the Cognac-producing region. The facility uses traditional copper pot stills originally designed for Cognac production.

What foods pair well with Citadelle? Smoked salmon or cured fish echo the gin's citrus and pepper notes. Soft goat cheese complements the floral and herbal character. Thai or Vietnamese dishes with lemongrass and coriander mirror several of the botanicals. Grilled white-fleshed fish with a lemon butter sauce lets the juniper and citrus notes shine alongside the meal. Dark chocolate with orange peel picks up the gin's spice and citrus finish.

What sizes does Citadelle come in? Citadelle Gin is commonly available in 750ml and 1L bottles, as well as this 1.75L format, which is the largest standard size and provides the best per-ounce value for regular use.

Is Citadelle worth the price? Citadelle positions as a premium gin — a tier above mass-market brands but below ultra-premium limited editions. Given its pot-still production, 19-botanical recipe, and consistent critical acclaim including a Master Medal at the 2025 Gin Masters, it represents strong value within the premium gin category.

Why Citadelle?

The core differentiator here is production method: Citadelle is one of very few gins in the world distilled in traditional Cognac pot stills over open flame, a technique that required regulatory approval that took half a decade to secure. That process, combined with a three-day botanical maceration and a recipe of 19 distinct botanicals, produces a gin with unusual depth and texture. Proof66 ranks Citadelle among the top 20 gins globally, and its Master Medal at the 2025 Gin Masters and Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm that critical consensus. For anyone seeking a juniper-driven, botanically complex gin that performs equally well neat or in cocktails, this 1.75L format delivers a benchmark French gin in a size built for serious use.