Maison Ferrand - Citadelle Vive Le Cornichon

Citadelle is produced by Maison Ferrand at the Château de Bonbonnet in the Cognac region of France, one of the few distilleries in the world to use a genuine Charentais copper pot still for gin production.

The house has deep roots in French spirits tradition, and their Citadelle range is known for pushing the boundaries of what gin can express.

Vive le Cornichon is one of the more provocative releases in the Citadelle Explorer series, a line dedicated to experimenting with unusual botanical infusions and limited-edition expressions.

As the name suggests, this gin is built around the gherkin, specifically the French cornichon, giving it a briny, vegetal, and genuinely savoury character that sets it apart from virtually every other gin on the market.

The base spirit is grain-distilled and redistilled with juniper and a selection of complementary botanicals before the cornichon element is integrated. The result is a gin that will genuinely surprise anyone who encounters it.

It works exceptionally well in a Dirty Martini, where its saline edge feels purposeful and precise rather than gimmicky, and adventurous bartenders will find it a compelling tool for savoury cocktail builds.

For those who enjoy gin that challenges conventional expectations, this is a well-executed novelty from a producer with serious credentials.