G’vine Nouaison – new
G’Vine Nouaison Gin :45%ABV
Botanicals: including juniper, sandalwood, bergamot, prune, java pepper, vetitveria, vine flowers
Flavour profile: juniper
Garnish: orange peel
The new G’Vine Nouaison incarnation was introduced on November 21, 2017 at Nobu Shoreditch; Atlas Bar, Singapore; and Tiger Bar, Paris. TheGinMan was delighted to be at Nobu for the event. Nouaison was first launched in 2008 as a counterpoint to the already successful Floraison, but was maybe a little to too similar to be popular in its own right; hence the revamp.
The grape-based and vine flower-infused spirit has an additional four botanicals and the abv increased from 43.9% to 45%, all wrapped in stylish new packaging.
CEO and master distiller Jean-Sébastien Robicquet was at the launch and explained that Nouaison was created as a more traditional counterpart to the floral G’Vine Floraison. The aim was to evolve Nouaison into a spicy, expressive and elegant gin that was differentiated more from its stablemate; and a gin that mixologists could use as a base for adventurous cocktails.
So, has the stated aim been achieved? On the nose, the new gin is less floral than its predecessor with more juniper and spice evident.
Neat, the added complexity is evident. Floral notes are still present but are now in the background. Juniper is to the fore, with added spice and heat and the citrus retained. Very nice indeed.
Paired with tonic, spice and juniper are in the foreground with less floral notes than before. But the complex and spicy profile really suit imaginative cocktail creations, and many have already been mixed to exploit the new taste; examples include Negroni a la Française and Divinus by David Rios (see cocktail section for recipes). We made an excellent martini with it, the spice, citrus and complexity working exceptionally well.
In summary this is a very well balanced, spicy gin with floral and citrus notes that sits between Floraison and a more traditional dry London Gin. We wish it much deserved success but its popularity may well be determined by the price at which it is introduced to the market.
