Domaine du Coquerel
Domaine du Coquerel is a family estate founded in Normandy in 1937 by René Gilbert. Since 1941, it has been based around a manor house built between the 18th and 19th centuries. In 1971, François Martin purchased the estate. He enlarged and renovated the property, in particular the winery, which he enriched with a considerable number of barrels. From 1991 to 1996, the estate was owned by United Distillers (now Diageo). That year, Jean-François Martin (François' son) took over the family business. Since 2014, Pierre Martin Neuhaus, the third generation at the helm, has been in charge.
Domaine du Coquerel is located in the AOC Calvados region. Its main product is naturally this apple spirit. Its activities also extend to cider, pommeau (a blend of apple juice and calvados), and more recently gin. The estate boasts 34 hectares of orchards, where 40 varieties of apples and pears are grown. 5,000 tonnes of apples are harvested each year, a crop that is supplemented by a number of local producers.
The fruit is fermented naturally, then distilled in one of the distillery's 3 copper stills. The cellars are either dry or wet, depending on the desired profile. They are filled with 2,500 French oak barrels. Some 650,000 bottles are produced each year, of which 75% are exported.
Normindia Gin
Pierre Martin Neuhaus, the current owner, first became familiar with gin while visiting the United States. Then, on his return from a trip to India, inspired by the spices and aromas he encountered, he set about reproducing a recipe unearthed in an old book from 1765: "La Chymie du Goût et de l'Odorat".
After two years of research, 42 maceration trials and no fewer than 33 laboratory micro-distillations, Normindia gin was born in 2015. In this blend of two cultures, Normandy and India, 15 plants, fruits, herbs and spices express themselves. These include apple, juniper, orange, cinnamon, lily, clove, ginger and coriander.
Maceration takes 4 to 12 days, before distillation in a small traditional column heated over an open fire.
Normindia gin is available in "classic", organic and Barrel Aged (aged 6 months in Domaine du Coquerel calvados barrels) versions. Read less
