French gin

What is French gin?

French gin is a spirit distilled in France, made with juniper berries as its aromatic foundation, combined with plants, flowers, spices, citrus fruits and other locally sourced ingredients. Depending on the producer, it may be artisanal, organic, barrel-aged, classic, floral, fruity, coastal or distinctly spicy. Its character lies primarily in its aromatic diversity and the frequent use of regional botanicals, giving each expression a strong identity. You can enjoy it neat, in a gin and tonic or in more elaborate cocktails, depending on the occasion.

The history of French gin

Gin has its roots in the historic Netherlands before becoming firmly established in England during the 17th century, where it gained widespread popularity. France, traditionally associated with wine, Cognac and Calvados, developed an interest in gin much later.

Its real growth began in the early 2000s, supported by France's long-standing expertise in eaux-de-vie, liqueurs, absinthe and Armagnac. Many established houses began using their stills and distilling knowledge to create premium gins with distinctive personalities.

Gabriel Boudier was among the first French houses to enter the category with Saffron Gin in 2006, followed by Maison Ferrand, whose Citadelle Gin helped build recognition for French gin internationally. During the 2010s, dozens of craft micro-distilleries emerged, drawing on the traditions of English gin while incorporating French-grown ingredients and regional influences. France now has more than a hundred gin producers across the country, from Normandy and Brittany to Charente, Provence and the Alps.

The identity of French gin

French gin is characterised by considerable creative freedom and a strong focus on local ingredients. Each region can bring its own aromatic influence to the spirit, creating distinctive profiles that become apparent during tasting:

• Provence: lavender, thyme and olive
• Brittany: seaweed, coastal influences and maritime botanicals
• The Alps: génépi and mountain herbs
• South-West France: grapes and vine flowers
• Corsica: citrus fruits and immortelle

The influence of French winemaking and traditional eaux-de-vie also gives French gin a distinctly vinous approach. Producers often work with Charentais stills, pay close attention to mouthfeel, develop complex botanical blends and sometimes mature their gins in barrels inspired by Cognac or winemaking traditions to add depth, roundness and complexity.

Notable French distilleries

The diversity of French terroirs is reflected in the range of distilleries represented in our selection:

• Maison Ferrand in Charente, creator of Citadelle Gin
• AR.Spirit Distillery, based in Cognac
• Tessendier Distillery, also located in Cognac
• Audemus Spirits Distillery, based in Cognac
• Maison Dutier in Ille-et-Vilaine
• Gabriel Boudier, known for Saffron Gin
• Lachanenche Distillery in the Ubaye Valley, specialising in organic mountain gins
• Coqlicorne Distillery in Normandy, known for its fruity and botanical profiles
• Manguin Distillery in Provence, renowned for its olive-based Oli Gin
• Saint-Gervais Distillery, producer of Gin du Mont-Blanc

How is French gin made?

French gin is generally produced through a precise process divided into seven main stages:

1. The base alcohol: production starts with a neutral or white spirit, usually made from wheat, beetroot or grapes depending on the distillery.
2. Botanical maceration: juniper berries remain at the heart of the recipe and are combined with flowers, citrus fruits, spices, plants and local ingredients infused in the alcohol.
3. Distillation: the mixture is heated in a still, most commonly made from copper, to extract its aromatic compounds.
4. Extraction and refinement: the aromatic vapours are collected and condensed. Some producers use ultrasound-assisted botanical extraction to preserve particularly delicate aromas.
5. Dilution: the distillate is reduced to its final strength, generally between 40% and 45% ABV, with pure water or spring water.
6. Resting or ageing: some gins rest for several weeks before bottling, while others spend time in oak barrels to develop woody notes, greater roundness and additional complexity.
7. Final adjustments and bottling: some producers add natural flavourings after distillation before filtration and bottling.

How should you drink French gin?

A gin and tonic remains one of the most popular ways to enjoy French gin: use plenty of ice, choose a tonic with restrained sweetness and select a garnish that complements the botanicals used in the gin. Cocktail lovers can also enjoy it in a Negroni, Martini, French 75 or Gimlet, where its aromatic complexity can add another dimension to the recipe. Premium and barrel-aged gins can also be enjoyed neat, much like an eau-de-vie, allowing the distiller's individual style to come through more clearly.

What food pairs well with French gin?

Its broad aromatic range allows French gin to work with many different foods when the pairing reflects the character of the bottle:

• Seafood and oysters with coastal-style gins
• Fresh cheeses and young goat's cheese
• Citrus fruits and desserts made with candied citrus peel
• Aromatic herbs and Mediterranean cuisine
• Dark chocolate with gins showing spicy notes

For a particularly versatile pairing, we recommend serving a botanical French gin with fresh goat's cheese and a citrus garnish. The freshness of the cheese softens the spirit's intensity, while the citrus helps highlight its juniper and botanical notes.