Arduenna Organic Gin (english)

Arduenna

Organic

Gin

Today, I test an organic gin made in homage to the Belgian Ardennes. The Ardennes is obviously a sacred place for our Celtic ancestors but also huge forests. The deciduous stands (53%) such as oak, ash, maple, cherry, elm, birch, hornbeam, and softwoods (47%) such as spruce, Douglas and pine. However, significant work has been undertaken for several decades to restore the original hardwood forest.

That's why Martin & François decided to make a gin in this region and to name it Arduenna. Usually written Arduenna, Ardwenna is the Gallic name of the Ardennes (confirmed by Julius Caesar), a region of Belgium, France, Luxembourg and Germany.

Etymologically, the prefix "ard" means: hard, strong, ard(u), and the suffix Enna (Aina, Ana, Haina, Dwanna or Dana) is the name of the Mother Goddess.

This goddess Dana is more than certainly pre-Celtic, she dates from the night of times. She is a terrestrial and underground Goddess, she is often represented in black, because this color comes from the dark color of the caves which sheltered her effigies.

In Celtic mythology, Arduinna, Arduena, Arduenna, or Ardoina is a Gallic goddess of the hunt and the forest. She is often represented riding a boar. She was also represented armed with a cuirass or corselet, a bow in her hand, and accompanied by a dog. She corresponds to the Roman goddess Diana. From her name derives the name of the forest massif of the Ardennes, whose symbol is also the boar as well as for the glorious regiment of the Ardennes Hunters

The two friends, who are hedonists at heart, are going to join forces with an old distillery in the region of Raeren (if you know what I mean, right? Come on, they make their own gin but also the famous strawberry gin from Wépion or the one from the most beautiful city in Belgium. Still not? Last clue a distillery of 1836 and which begins with Ra, the god of the sun. Yes bingo, it is indeed Radermacher) to make a 100% organic gin that reminds the Ardennes.

The bottle is opaque and emerald green, it is decorated with a branch of fir on which we find in gold letter the name of the beverage. Underneath, we can also read that it is an organic gin, made in Belgium, and that it has 40% Alc.

At the back of this one I learn that the liquid has undergone 6 distillations; in fact it is distilled in a still with a rectifying column with 6 trays. This process guarantees a first quality alcohol but also to remove a maximum of the flavors of the ingredients which enter in its preparation.

I uncork the bottle and am literally immersed in a vat of high intensity juniper.

I pour a dose of the precious alcohol in the glass provided for this purpose, and yes in tasting we are far from the adage: What does the bottle matter, as long as we have the drunkenness.

I have a beautiful golden and crystalline liquid; to the nose I am always in my juniper accompanied by white fleshy fruit.

In the mouth: juniper with spices (clove, cardamom and bergamot), mirabelle plum, fir. Once this impression is over, the elderberry comes into play. The Judas tree (black elderberry) will release a phenomenal amount of vanilla. 

Which will give a long sweet finish but not suitable with the cigar and yet I took a powerful and strong cigar on purpose.

In conclusion: there is no need to say that this gin is to be classified in the good gins because we find obviously the pronounced taste of juniper, already that alone I say bravo.

Then the mixture of pine sap, elderberry and mirabelle plum is a great success.

The only negative side, but just because it is not my taste, too much presence of vanilla.

I invite you to make your own discovery and to give me an appreciation on your tasting under this article.

Price at the time of writing: ± 40 euros