Citadelle introduced Citadelle Bajan, a limited-edition gin distilled at Stade’s West Indies Rum Distillery in Barbados. Part of the brand’s Les Excentriques collection, the expression uses a molasses base and was created by Maison Ferrand owner and master blender Alexandre Gabriel as a tribute to Barbados’ rum-making heritage.
Distilled on century-old pot stills, the gin features grapefruit alongside hibiscus, locally known as sorrel, plus bay leaves and lemongrass. The botanicals are intended to reflect local flavours and the island setting shared with Maison Ferrand’s Planteray rum operations. Bottled at 41.4% ABV, Citadelle Bajan launched first in Barbados before planned expansion into select European markets and the UK.
For consumers, the release combines regional ingredients, historic equipment and cross-category inspiration. Its Gold medal at The Gin Masters 2026 also reinforces growing interest in place-driven gin expressions with distinctive production stories.
Grapefruit-Infused Bajan Gins
Citadelle Launches Its Citadelle Bajan Gin
Trend Themes
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Place-driven Spirits — Regional botanicals, local production narratives, and island-specific flavor cues are reshaping premium spirits into cultural artifacts with stronger storytelling value.
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Cross-category Distillation — Gin expressions borrowing from rum-making heritage reveal new white-space potential where production methods, bases, and brand equities overlap across spirit categories.
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Limited-edition Terroir Releases — Small-batch launches tied to specific geographies create scarcity-led appeal while allowing brands to test distinctive flavor profiles in select markets.
Industry Implications
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Alcoholic Beverages — Premium spirits producers are gaining differentiation through heritage equipment, unconventional bases, and botanicals that connect products to recognizable destinations.
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Hospitality and Tourism — Place-based alcohol releases strengthen the link between local gastronomy and destination branding, giving bars, resorts, and tourism operators richer experiential offerings.
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Luxury Food and Drink — Award-winning, story-led expressions signal growing demand for collectible consumables that combine craftsmanship, provenance, and sensory novelty.