When a winemaker decides to make his own gin, the results should be intriguing. French winemaker Andre Brunel uses a base of vintage grapes from Rhone Valley grapevines, then adds 13 botanicals including juniper, coriander, fennel, vanilla and angelica root, among others. The bright, fragrant herbal nose is very inviting, and the myriad number of flavors is impressive. You’ll also find black pepper spice, a minty note, lavender and thyme, a light woody note, cinnamon, rosemary and coriander – all wrapped in a bursting herbal package that moves this away from standard gins. The clean and radiant nature of this gin makes it a wonderful stand-alone beverage, and certainly a stellar addition to certain cocktails (the complexity of this might not work well with standard cocktails). Packed with flavor, Le Gin 13 is one of those rare gins where nearly every botanical can be identified and while that makes for a complex drinking experience, keep in mind that there is a lot happening in the glass. For gin fanatics, Le Gin 13 might be the experience you’ve been looking for. 93
Reviewed by Michael Cervin
Brand – Le Gin 13
Spirit Type – Gin
Country of Origin – France/Rhone Valley
ABV – 45%
Bottle Size – 750ml
Price – $60
Score – 93
Date Reviewed – 5/24/2025