Gin XII - The Unmistakable Taste of Provence
Gin XII by Distilleries et Domaines de Provence was just launched in the US a few months ago, and is now luring people’s palate with its unmistakable taste of Provence.
It contains 12 botanicals -as befits its Roman numeral “XII”, which evoke ancient memories of the French region- such as thyme, rosemary, and mint, which round out the prominent taste of sweet almond, eucalyptus and juniper berries.
The bottle was designed to accurately reflect the recipe: the number XII is displayed in the center, surrounded by the ingredients, which are meant to form an oval - a symbol of harmony - and are drawn in white - a representation of the purity of each one of them.
Gin XII was conceived by the Robert family, who runs the distillery, after a long period of research and reflection; the aim was to create a different gin, very aromatic and rich in taste yet still dry, which could symbolize the southern region of France. The premium handcrafted dry gin came out indeed refreshing, thanks to the minty and floral notes as well as soft and smooth, thanks to the slightly sweet eucalyptus and cardamom spice.
“The production of Gin XII came as a natural next step for our distillery,” says Alain Robert – the ceo of Distilleries et Domaines de Provence. “Our region is famous for the abundant growth of herbs and spices, including one of the most flavorful wild junipers you can find in Europe, as many gin experts told us. We had the distillery and we had the right experience and know-how of the distillation process of other spirits. Our idea was to create a gin where all the herbs are balanced, where the juniper and its aromas have to be sublimated. After 5 years spent perfecting the recipe, we felt that we were finally ready to share our Provençal version of gin with customers and aficionados alike.”
Gin XII is a pleasant drink to be sipped by itself or in cocktails. When mixed to citrusy tonics based cocktails, “it gives its best as the sourness of the citrus brings out many of the essences of the Gin XII, which are otherwise subtle,” explains Jean-Baptiste Robert, son of Alain.
The botanicals used are mostly handpicked from around Forcalquier, the little town where the gin is distilled. Distilleries et Domaines de Provence has been here since 1898, and has been making aperitifs and liqueurs for more than 120 years.
Gin XII is now imported in the US by Crillon Importers, the New Jersey-based company founded by iconic spirits marketer Michel Roux, the “father” of Absolut Vodka and Bombay Sapphire Gin, Pastis Henri Bardouin.