Unusual French Botanicals: When Gin Becomes Art

Let's discover these unusual botanicals that make our taste buds tingle!

Did you know there are French gins made with ingredients as surprising as kumquat, kiwi, or even a touch of honey? Far from classic recipes, some French distillers push the limits of creativity to transform gin into a true liquid work of art. 

Kumquat: The Citrus that Awakens Gin

A small fruit native to Asia, the kumquat adds a lively and tangy, almost candied note to the gin. In the Koom Gin from the Loire Valley, it infuses an exotic freshness, perfect for bright and refreshing cocktails. An organic gin that stands out thanks to this original touch.

Kiwi: Sweetness and Fruity Brightness

Yes, you read that right: kiwi in gin! The Gin Attribut No. 1 from Grand Nez Spirits, in Occitanie, surprises with its fruity and slightly sweet note. The kiwi brings a gourmet dimension that pairs wonderfully with juniper, citrus, and lemon verbena. A bold organic gin, ideal for original cocktails.

Honey: Sweetness and Authenticity

When the distiller is also a beekeeper, magic happens. In Gin Reinaissance from Erika Spirits (Nouvelle-Aquitaine), a hint of honey rounds out the floral and delicate profile of the gin. This subtle sweetness adds complexity and depth, while recalling the distiller's love for nature and its bees.

Seaweed and Rock Samphire: The Call of the Ocean

While Brittany is known for its sea spray, some French distillers have chosen to incorporate botanicals from the sea into their recipes.

The seaweeds bring iodine and salty notes, ideal for an ultra-fresh gin tonic or a revisited dry martini.

As for criste marine, also called sea fennel, it offers a unique vegetal flavor, slightly salty, with lemony and crunchy nuances. It evokes both the Breton cliffs and the Provençal rocks, enhancing gins with a beautiful coastal freshness.

Although we do not yet offer Breton gin made from seaweed or rock samphire, these marine botanicals perfectly illustrate the boldness of French artisanal gin.

Summer Truffle: Luxury and French Terroir

Absolute symbol of French gastronomic terroir, the truffle now invites itself into artisanal gin. At Grand Nez Spirits, producers of Gin Attribut No. 1, creativity knows no bounds: their Gin Truffe Édition Spéciale combines summer truffle and natural vanilla in a bold creation.

The truffle adds a woody depth, slightly earthy, while maintaining the elegance and finesse typical of the distillery's gins. The result: a rare and gastronomic gin, perfect to surprise during a neat tasting or in a sophisticated cocktail. A true liquid work of art, decidedly French.

Hemp: Freshness and Originality

Still rare in the gin world, hemp brings vegetal notes, slightly herbal, and a unique freshness. Newlands Gin with Hemp, distilled in Brittany, is a perfect example. Made from carefully selected hemp seeds, it captivates with its aromatic complexity and singular touch.

Its vegetal profile, slightly earthy and delicately bitter, pairs well both in neat tasting and innovative cocktails. A fine proof that French boldness knows no limits when it comes to turning gin into a liquid work of art.

Espelette Pepper: Basque Spice at the Heart of Gin

Originating from the Basque Country, Espelette pepper is a key ingredient that brings a gentle and fruity heat, without aggressiveness. In gin, it creates a slightly spicy, elegant note, perfect for bold cocktails. Haize Gin is an excellent example: it combines the warmth of the pepper with citrus for a lively and balanced experience.

Eucalyptus: Freshness and Intensity

Less expected in the gin world, eucalyptus offers an intense and slightly mentholated freshness. Used subtly, it gives Basque gins a unique note, both invigorating and aromatic. Anaiak Gin, distilled in the Basque Country, perfectly illustrates this originality, ideal for those seeking a gin off the beaten path.

An Alcohol Base That Makes All the Difference

Beyond unusual botanicals, French distillers also innovate on the very base of their gins. While many international gins use only neutral grain alcohol, France stands out with bases derived from wine, grape marc, beetroot, or even potato. These choices influence the texture, roundness, and aromatic complexity of the gin.

For example, some gins like Faronville Gin use potato alcohol for a silky texture, while others, like Anaiak Gin, are made from alcohol produced from organic wine pomace, bringing a fruity and elegant dimension. This diversity makes French gin a true artisanal signature, rich in flavors and character.

In the world of French gin, craftsmanship is not limited to juniper. Every distiller competes in boldness to surprise our taste buds with unexpected botanicals. Discover these original creations on Ginsations and let yourself be tempted by the art of gin... the French way!

👉 Explore our selection of artisanal gins with rare botanicals in our favorite French gin collection.