A delicious four-part gift set that shows off some of the best apéritif expressions from Distilleries et Domaines de Provence.

The set includes 100ml samples of: RinQuinQuin a la Peche, Orange Colombo, Noix de la Saint Jean and Gentiane de Lure.

RinQuinQuin is a delicious French Peach liqueur, produced through the combination of peach and peach leave distillate with white wines. Peaches and leaves are separated and macerated individually in a combination of alcohol and wine, this process can take up to one year. The infusions are then separated again, into liquids and solids, with the solids distilled before being added and the liquids added directly to wine.

The title RinQuinQuin is take from the word requinquilhar, which means ‘to cheer up’ in the local Provençal dialect. This aperitif will certainly cheer you up with its intense peachy and fruity flavours.

Orange Colombo is an orange liqueur made with the infusion of both bitter and sweet oranges, further orange flavourings, Lubéron rosé wine, quinine, curaçao, sugar and neutral alcohol. The final product sits somewhere between a straightforward orange liqueur, and a tonic wine. Delicious when added to cocktails, it also is excellent as an ingredient in desserts.

Noix de la Saint Jean is another interesting apéritif, a walnut liqueur produced at the Forcalquier distillery. To produce this liqueur, the walnuts have to be picked before the end of St. Jean’s day, the 24th of June, as this ensures that they are still soft-shelled and unripe. The nuts are macerated for between 6 and 12 days, along with a maceration of spices. The liqueur pours a red colour, and possesses notes of mixed spice, verdant nuts, sugar, pepper and sweet wine. The distillery suggest pairing this with melon as a starter, or with cheese or chocolate as a dessert.

Finally, we have Distilleries et Domaines de Provence’s takeon the popular Gentian liqueur, Gentiane de Lure. This is one of the oldest recipes that the company uses, dating from 1898, and it is made with Lubéron white wine, fortified wines, bitter and sweet oranges, quinine infusion, and (of course) gentian root. The botanical ingredients are macerated for between 6 to 12 months, before being mixed with alcohol, fortified wine and white wine. The final result is a bittersweet, rooty aperitif with touches of tonic, citrus and verdant spice.

This set is a wonderful chance to get to grips with some of the best apéritifs on the market, and a great introduction to these typically French drinks.

• Country
  France
• Bottler
  Distillery Bottling
• SKU
  034834