Sail away to the French Riviera with this new craft gin

There’s a new French gin on the scene, bringing the bright flavours of the Mediterranean coast to the market.

Gin D’Azur is the brainchild of a family-run distillery in Saint Sauvant, in the Cognac region. Its botanical mix showcases the flavours of the Côte d’Azur, including thyme, rosemary, lavender, lemon peel, salt and star anise. Its makers say the ingredients have been harvested at their “aromatic peak” to evoke the spirit of ‘La Garrigue’ – a nod to the area’s native flora, fauna and diverse agriculture. To reduce its impact on the environment, the bottle is sealed with a recyclable synthetic cork stopper.

It is made under the watchful eye of maître de chai Paul Caris, who has 20 years’ experience in the wine and spirits industry, and uses a traditional French distillation process in which the botanicals are distilled separately to capture each ingredient’s best aromatic compounds.

Paul Caris said: “The finest ingredients from the iconic Côte d’Azur have been hand-picked and distilled through classical yet innovative techniques resulting in a convivial, spirited gin. Created to be shared and savoured, we have really tried to capture the joie de vivre of the Riviera whilst showcasing that no one can curate liquid better than the French.”

Gin D’Azur is available to buy through Master of Malt and is served at venues including Annabel’s, Mark’s Club and George. The brand has plans to expand its international footprint with on and off-trade partners in 2020.