Le Gin de Christian Drouin

Christian Drouin made its name in Calvados, the apple brandy of Normandy, so it is no surprise that apples find their way into the distillery's gin. Built from eleven botanicals, the recipe pairs the classics, juniper, coriander and angelica root, with local herbs and spices and, most tellingly, the apples that define this corner of France. The result reads as French to its core: orchard-fresh, fruity and lightly sweet.

The nose offers fresh juniper alongside fruity apple, a hint of citrus and subtle herbs. The palate is full-bodied and balanced, juniper and crisp apple meeting spicy herbs and a quiet citrus note, before a long, soft, refreshing finish with a clear herbal thread. Reach for a Mediterranean tonic and garnish with apple slices or a sprig of rosemary to play up its Normandy roots.