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Progressive infusion, the founding idea behind Citadelle Gin

The next step was to find a way to infuse and macerate the spices over time, each at the ideal moment and at the optimal alcohol strength, then distil them together to achieve the perfect marriage. After a few years of work, this gave rise to the method that would become our signature: progressive infusion at decreasing alcohol strengths. Invented by Alexandre Gabriel and unique to Citadelle Gin, this technique is one of the only patents in the worldwide history of gin. It's a tremendous source of pride for Maison Ferrand.

"The idea behind progressive infusion is simple in principle but demanding in practice. You have to think of maceration as a gradual integration of botanicals and spices. Over several days, the base spirit is hydrated, its alcohol strength gradually drops, and the spices are introduced at the perfect moment, at the perfect strength, for the perfect length of time. I often compare it to tea bags steeped at exactly the right moment. Only when the infusion is perfect does it go into the still for distillation". - Alexandre Gabriel, Master Blender.

This approach is what led us to create Citadelle Gin with a completely unique method.

"From a strictly technical standpoint, everything here depends on the extraction power of the water-ethanol solvent. Some aromatic molecules are more soluble in water, others in ethanol. At the end of the day, it all comes down to molecular balance… and a little bit of magic." - Fannie, Assistant Cellar Master, Maison Ferrand.

A recipe unchanged since the beginning

With the ideal technique in hand, what about the recipe? From the very beginning, Citadelle Gin Original has been made with 19 botanicals. It is our signature. Getting there took countless trials with different spices and botanicals, guided by Alexandre Gabriel's deep convictions about what a high-quality gin should be.

"A great gin is like a pyramid. At the top sits freshness, brought by the juniper berries we grow near the château, sometimes rounded out with a little fennel, for example. In summer, it's absolutely fabulous. Then, at the base, the citrus element: lemon, bright citrus notes. That's a very important constant for Citadelle. Finally, on the sides, there's that ever-present touch of warm spice: nutmeg and a hint of cinnamon, lending a perceptible sweetness. That is the Citadelle trilogy." - Alexandre Gabriel, Master Distiller and founder of Citadelle Gin.

Since its creation, Citadelle Original has been built on the same signature recipe: 19 botanicals, a founding balance that has never changed.

From research to the first official distillation

As cognac producers, we were allowed to distil until March 31. The rest of the year, our stills sat dormant. That fact wasn't lost on Alexandre Gabriel: why not put this expertise and these Charentais stills to work on a craft gin?

But turning the idea into reality took patience. Alexandre Gabriel had to convince the French authorities and customs to allow us to use these stills for something other than cognac production.

It wasn't until 1996, five years after that first spark, after long hours digging through archives, countless trials, failed attempts, and inspiring encounters along the way, that we were finally able to distil officially in our stills and launch Citadelle Gin. That year, 1996, is when the project finally came to life, marking the birth of Citadelle Gin.