Review

Gabriel Boudier Sloe Gin

Gabriel Boudier Company, Dijon, Burgundy, France.

Gabriel Boudier Company.

This excellent micro-distiller from the Boudier family has been producing fine spirits since 1874, even though taken over by the Battault family in 1936 (Jean Battault is the current president of the company). Their motto is “Excellentia praecepta imponit quae transigi non possunt”, which translates as “Quality is a principle which tolerates no compromises.” The company became the leading Gin specialist in France at the end of WWII, when it was awarded the contract to supply American troops in Europe.

Small batch production techniques are used with inefficient traditional copper pot stills.

Wild sloes (from a limestone plateau) are picked after the first frosts and macerated in GB’s own Gin. Once the flesh and stone have dissolved, additional sugar is carefully added. The presentation varies: for bartenders there is a long cylindrical bottle; whilst for domestic use there is a squat cylindrical bottle with a long neck and large shoulders.

Flavored Gin - Sloe.

25% (50 Proof).

$$ - $$$. Not available in the USA but try Irelands Celtic Whisky Shop and expect to at least double the price in shipping.

9 natural botanicals are used including: angelica seeds, coriander, fennel, iris, juniper, lemon, orange peel, and sloe.

After the name of the founder Gabriel Boudier, and the key botanical flavor Sloeberry.

On the nose is sloe and juniper with faint hints of citrus. On the palate is sloe and pronounced juniper - compared with other Sloe Gins. There are other botanicals but they are hard to define beyond, citrus, herbal and floral notes. Altogether this offers an enticing complexity with sweet and dry arriving at different points in the silky smooth taste.

This is clearly a full flavored Sloe Gin, which we highly recommend for sipping on a winter’s evening, beside a fire – it’s certainly hard to refuse another one in these circumstances. Obviously, one is not restricted to just sipping it neat, try adding sparking liquid components like soda water, wine etc. for a long cool drink.

Unknown.