Meet the maker of Avem Hippolais Gin

Our February 2020 box edition featured the ultra-premium gin from the southwest of France: Gin Avem Hippolais from Maison Mounicq.

Since the founder, Cedrik Nadé, comes from a family of Bordeaux winemakers, he thought: "If we can make excellent wines with Bordeaux grapes, why not also make sublime spirits?" After launching his first spirit, Vodka Nadé, Cedrik wanted to involve his brother Axel in his venture. He decided to collaborate with him to launch a range of experimental gins that would showcase their personalities. Cedrik's demand for excellence, rigor, and attention to detail were put to the test during his first creation, as well as the creativity, passion, and recklessness of his younger brother. To do this, they met passionate and fascinating distillers who put their expertise and know-how at the service of their experiments.

The Avem Hippolais is a London Dry Gin, which is distilled in small batches in collaboration with Christophe Gauville, master distiller of cognac at the Distillerie des Moisans. The first batch of Avem Gin (1188 bottles) was distilled in November 2019 and bottled in two batches in November and January.

To symbolize this journey and especially this collaboration, they chose the name Avem, which means birds in Latin. Sons of an ornithologist, this name choice was obvious to both of them. Soothed by their songs, Cedrik and Alex love everything that birds embody, starting with freedom - a guiding principle for the creation of their gin.

Avem Gin is made using the double distillation process, with Charentais stills. The neutral alcohol base used is a blend of Cabernet Sauvignon, Cabernet Franc, Merlot, and Sémillon harvested in the Bordeaux region. Since it is not a grain-based gin, it is 100% gluten-free.