For Melifera, summer rhymes with strolls along the water and delicious shared moments. It is also a time where the immortelle flower is harvested, where you share laughs and drinks with friends and want to surprise your taste buds with region specific aromas.

Our favourite, a Corsican signature cocktail

The story of this cocktail; is the story of an encounter between a secret place in Bonifacio called the Hotel Version Maquis and its chef barman, Arthur Hudin a true magician. Arthur lets his creativity roam freely to create a novel cocktail, absolute gem. Its Barona goes perfectly the floral and warm notes of the Melifera gin with the aromatic, fragrant side of the barona, and the endemic Corsican thyme. The acidity balances out this intriguing and fresh aromatic cocktail. It is an invitation to travel, to the legendary island of Corsica that we and Arthur share on @frisky_cocktails. First step is to prepare your syrup. In a saucepan, heat over 500ml of hot water, 500g of sugar, 100g of barona thyme and 5g of citric acid on low heat for the. For the thyme, remember to take of the branches that will add bitterness to your mixture and keep the leaves. For those of you who are not lucky enough to be in Corsica at the moment, you can use regular thyme to replace barona. Filter then set aside in the refrigerator. In a shaker full of ice, pour 5cl of Melifera, 2.5cl of barona syrup. Shake, strain and serve in a chilled cocktail glass. Arthur’s little tip is to put the glass in the freezer beforehand. You drink is ready, close your eyes and enjoy. Can you smell the Corsican maquis?

A sun-gorged recipe

Peach, the idea summer fruit is our guest of honour to sublimate our Gin & Tonic, this mythical cocktail for gin amateurs. Not much is required for this recipe. In a highball glass, fill with ice, pour 50 ml of Melifera gin and add 120ml of your best tonic. Follow up by roasting a quarter slice of peach in your oven or with a blowtorch, lightly coating it with brown sugar beforehand. Decorate your glass with this slice of peach and a spring of lemon thyme. We promise you you’ll love this cocktail as much as us.

A spicy “after the beach cocktail”

After letting yourself indulge in the sweetness of fruits, allow yourself to be surprised by the spicy twist of our Bloody Mary on the Beach. This is a revisited cocktail by Melifera, where we prefer green tomatoes from red ones, and gin to vodka. Are you ready for this experience? Ice a highball glass with crushed ice. Pour 50ml of Melifera in a shaker, 80ml of green tomato juice, 15ml of lemon juice, spices (celery salt, salt and pepper) and add some drops of Tabasco. Shake energetically during a couple of minutes and transfer your mixture in the iced glass. As a garnish, you can choose between: olives, basil, pepper or even a celery branch.

L’article Our three Gin-based recipes to spice up your summer est apparu en premier sur Melifera - Gin bio français à la fleur d'immortelle.

La buvette de la plage

The priority is to emphasis the brand’s roots with the island of Oleron. It is here in Saint Denis d’Oleron that La Buvette de la Plage awaits you. A dream location and its terrace sits on the delicious Boirie beach, right next to the
sailing club. Ideal location to take a break after an outing at sea. If Fred greets you with a smile, it is Theo, his son, who works behind the bar and prepares a signature cocktail of which only he has the secret. With your feet in the water, you can taste your latest peach cocktail, as surprising as it is delicious, before indulging in exceptional cuisine. A wholesome and warm place where Melifera feels right at home.

La Yole de Chris

Do you know the skiff? This light and beautiful narrow elongated boat that used to accompany ships at sea. This is the name that chef Christopher Coutanceau and his partner Nicolas Brossard have chosen for their marine bistro, adjoining the 3-star gourmet restaurant. La Yole de Chris awaits you in the heart of La Rochelle, on Concurrence Beach, with its terrace with a magical view of the ocean. It Is the perfect spot to share products straight from the sea in a friendly and relaxed atmosphere, while enjoying a special Melifera cocktail created by the starred chef himself. Let us not forget to salute the Michelin plate awarded to La Yole de Chris in 2020, as well as the green badge highlighting a “Commitment to sustainable gastronomy”. As a committed brand we have obviously noticed!

La plage de la Ribaudière

Let’s stay in Charente-Maritime with two great addresses near Royan. In Ronce-les-Bains, La Plage de la Ribaudière, located in an old sailing school offers a ”fisherman cabin” atmosphere. Imagine, you are installed on a beautiful terrace under the pines, on the edge of Cèpe beach, with the sea and the Ile d’Oleron in the horizon! What could be better to drink a fresh gin and tonic or a cocktail prepared by starred chef Thierry Veyrat’s team? Cherry on top, you can end the evening by treating your taste buds to a refined cuisine based on the catch of the day and local products, all of which earned La Plage de la Ribaudière a Bib Gourmand awarded by Michelin. Want to know a little secret? La Ribaudière, the parent company, is a Michelin star from Bourg-Charente.

La crique Suzac Beach House

Let’s leave behind the ocean, destination Meschers and La Crique – Suzac Beach House, set on the sand at the heart of the small cove of Suzac, surrounded by sandy cliffs, facing the Gironde estuary. The decor is made to imagine having drinks while watching the sunset in a bohemian chic spirit and pleasant musical atmosphere. Since Melifera joined the place in spring, its mixologist has been offering mouth watering cocktails based on our gin. To accompany them, let yourself be tempted by local producers’ treasures, such as Adrien Geay’s oysters or Maëva’s cheese.

Le Zéphyr café

Imminent departure ! Take the ferry from Royan to cross the estuary to Verdon, direction Montalivet. The next stop is 50 meters from the ocean: Le Zéphyr Café. More than a terrace, it is a real place of life, surfing, salt, beach, music and much more … sheltered from the wind and bathed in sunshine. A place like we love them, where you can enjoy the perfect Melifera “ginto”. A super cool atmosphere for this after-beach bar which was one of the first to fall for Melifera.

l’Hôtel Version Maquis Citadelle 5 étoiles

Change of scenery, change of region. The ocean gives way to the Mediterranean Sea and its legendary island, Corsica. It is in Bonifacio, in a magical setting, that the 5-star Hotel Version Maquis Citadelle is located. An exceptional address for a spellbinding moment, seated at the table of this incredible hotel bar, by the infinity pool, with a breathtaking view of the citadel of Bonifacio. The maquis, diffuses the powerful scent of immortelle, the star of the show. The link between Melifera and this place was obvious. A meeting around the immortelle flower that head bartender Arthur Hedin celebrated by creating a signature cocktail with our gin. The Melifera Barona Martini is a magnificent tribute and undoubtedly our favourite.

La Chapelle Saint-Martin

After the sea, make way for the green and poetic landscapes of the Limousin countryside. In Nieul, La Chapelle Saint-Martin, our first ambassador, holds a special place in our hearts. Melifera shares with its starred chef, Gilles Dudognon, common values of authenticity, terroir, high standards and creativity. Today, we won’t talk to you about the terrace of its gourmet restaurant, a dream location to contemplate the 35-hectare park planted with two-hundred-year-old trees and the pond, but about a whole new place created in the owned by Gilles Dudognon. A timeless place: the extraordinary garden. Completely open Art Deco structure, large terrace, giant rhubarb leaves, waiters dressed as gardeners… We dream with our eyes open while tasting a Melifera gin cocktail.

17 Fort-Royer

End of the trip with an immersion at the heart of the capital. Since Leena decided last year to offer her city clients the pleasures of Oleron, Paris has been home to 17 Fort-Royer. A restaurant painted blue like a fisherman’s hut, a nice terrasse in the center of le Marais, an oyster plate to enjoy, warm of freshly opened or a prawn dish, depending of your taste, with a Melifera in hand. What else could you want? Perhaps return to the source, to Cabane 17 Fort-Royer, in the middle of oyster beds on the island of Oleron, so dear to Melifera.

L’article The best terraces to enjoy a Melifera cocktail this summer est apparu en premier sur Melifera - Gin bio français à la fleur d'immortelle.

The Concours de Bruxelles and gold medals

The Concours mondial de Bruxelles, created in 1994, was established to identify and recommend the best wines to consumers worldwide.

The Spirits Selection by the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, created a few years later, is dedicated to spirits and distinguishes the best products in this category. From whiskies to cognacs, as well as liqueurs and gins, numerous spirits are tested and evaluated by an impartial jury.

Having existed for many years, this competition is now one of the most important international events for wines and spirits.

To gain this recognition, the Concours mondial de Bruxelles selects renowned and recognized tasters from various parts of the world. The juries are composed of master blenders, buyers, importers, qualified WSET educators, respected journalists, and writers from spirits world.

The organization ensures optimal tasting conditions for its tasters and places great importance on their training.

Since 2006, this competition has taken place past the Belgian borders, bringing its tasters to a different country each year. This emphasizes the international nature of the event and provides better exposure for the awarded spirits worldwide.

The reliability of wine and spirits competitions can sometimes be questioned. There is indeed a wide range of international competitions, with more or less rigorous selection procedures. However, the Concours mondial de Bruxelles is considered one of the most reliable, by both professionals and consumers, and a medal at this competition is truly a meaningful accomplishment for us.

Gins awarded with Gold Medals at the 2023 Competition

How many gold medals were awarded this year for Gins and other spirits?

For its 25th anniversary, the Spirits Selection by the Concours mondial de Bruxelles was held in Trieste, Italy. The number of spirits samples submitted to the competition set its own record with nearly 2,350 entries from around the world.

These spirits from 57 different countries were blind tested by a panel of 138 expert judges representing 33 nations.

This diversity of origin and expertise contributes to the unique character of the event and greater objectivity in the results.

The Concours mondial de Bruxelles is renowned as one of the most reliable competitions due to the very high number of wines and spirits competing. Nevertheless, not every entry receives a medal!

This year, only about 30% of spirits received a medal.
Among all the Gins presented, only 25 Gins from all nationalities combined received a gold medal. Melifera is one of the three French Gins to receive a gold medal.
Two other French Gins received a silver medal.

Therefore, it is our first-ever organic Gin, our classic Melifera with its distinct notes of immortelle flowers and the essence of a seaside escapades, that has been honored such a prize. It is worth noting that only a select few organic Gins have earned such recognition. This provides yet another reason for our elation.

When we express our immense joy at Melifera receiving a prestigious Medal in the Gin category, it is because there is a significant meaning behind our excitement.

Melifera Gin had already received several medals beforehand

Before this gold medal, Melifera had already received significant awards in the past years, with both of Gins earning multiple medals.

In March 2022, Melifera was honored with the PLD Design and Innovation Award. Beyond its Gin, it was the Melifera bottle that received the top prize at the prestigious PLD Innovation Awards in the spirits & liquors – premium & luxury category, alongside Remy Martin.

Organized as part of Paris Packaging Week, the Innovation Awards celebrate the best innovations in packaging across various sectors (perfumes, cosmetics, premium beverages, among others) each year. For us, it was a fantastic recognition from experienced professionals.

This medal acknowledged the unique design of our bottle and the innovative technology for decorating the 360-degree engraved and painted immortelle wreath.

The beginning of 2023 was also a great season for our second Gin, Melifera Edizione Corsa. In February 2023, our second edition received the Gin of the Year award during the renowned Vinexpo Paris show by the magazine Caviste & e-commerce. This award holds special significance for us as it represents the vote of wine merchants and fine food stores that have supported us since the launch of Melifera and confirms the success of our second Gin.

To further celebrate our Edizione Corsa, it was also selected in the Bar des Innovations organized by Liquid Liquid and Cocktail Spirits at the magnificent Drinks&Co Paris. This provided an opportunity for enthusiasts and, most importantly, bartending professionals to discover the top 100 innovations of the year and the new trends in the world of spirits.

A few weeks later, it was the competition for French spirits that elected Melifera Edizione Corsa as the favorite French Gin of 2023. This time, it was a highly symbolic medal awarded by the public who chose our Gin from among dozens of French spirits.

What does this gold medal mean for our Gin?

We are truly delighted with the recent accolades from the Concours Mondial de Bruxelles, which awarded this gold medal to Melifera.

First and foremost, for all the reasons of exacting standards and uniqueness inherent to this competition, we are very proud that our Gin has earned this medal.

It is the intrinsic qualities of our Gin that are being acknowledged here. From the development of the recipe, which we created after multiple iterations and numerous tests with our distiller, to the precise selection of organic ingredients and botanicals that are distilled, all the way to the crafting of our Gin.

Furthermore, after gaining recognition from wine merchants who now carry our product extensively (450 wine merchants in France distribute Melifera) and from individuals who are fond of our bottle and the unique immortelle flavor of our Gin, the gold medal from the Concours mondial de Bruxelles is the recognition we had been missing.

Coming from an impartial jury, which, without being swayed by our bottle’s charm (which is undeniably magnificent) and without knowledge of our equally splendid commitments, has blindly recognized our Gin’s qualities as among the best in the world of spirits.

Once again, a heartfelt thank you go out to the judges and organizers of this wonderful event.

L’article A gold medal for Melifera Gin est apparu en premier sur Melifera - Gin bio français à la fleur d'immortelle.