Review: Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665    (90.5/100)
a review by Chip Dykstra
Posted July o5, 2023

The Distillerie de Québec was founded several years ago by Christophe Légasse and David Lévesque, who are committed towards creating fine spirits with a regional (Quebec) taste. Theirs is one of many new micro-distilleries which have begun to proliferate the landscape of the North American Distilling industry. They have created a small portfolio of spirits that has began to penetrate the Canadian market which include Cap Diamant Vodka, Rhum St-Roc Foundation, Trait-Carré Dry Gin, and the subject of this review, Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665.

Trait-Carré Dry Gin was designed to be tribute to the Quebec City community nucleus called the Trait-Carré. The year 1665 marks the founding of this community and the arrival of Intendant Jean-Talon in Quebec, which the Distillerie de Québec mark as a turning point for the brewing industry in the history of the city. Their aged Gin continues the tribute by bearing the name Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665.

This gin contains the same fourteen botanicals found in Trait-Carré Dry Gin namely, Juniper Berries, Coriander Seeds, Bitter Orange Peels, Grapefruit Peels, Sea-buckthorn Berries, Elderberries, Sweet Clover, Hibiscus Flower, Chamomile Flowers, Peppery Green Alder, Angelica Root, Iris Root and Cardamom. However this time the spirit was aged in quarter casks of American rye whisky. Each batch is a blend of from these barrels which have matured for up to two years.

The aged gin has won numerous awards, most notable a Double Gold Medal at the 2020 Berlin International Spirits Competition.

My bottle of Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665 was from Batch 010 and is bottled at 48 % alcohol by volume.

In The Bottle 4/5

To the left is my photograph of the Trait-Carré Aged Gin 1665. I like include the synthetic cork topper, the wide mouth four pouring, and the ergonomic shape of the bottle which fits easily on my gin shelf. I am not too fussy about the label which really could use some more pizzazz. Although the name of the gin is easy to read, the placement of the words ‘Aged Gin” is odd. When I first saw a bottle I was confused as to what this spirit was because I did not see the words Aged Gin at the top of the label.

I do not understand the significance of the graphics on the label, Instead of whatever that is, I would like to see a map of some sort showing us the Quebec City community nucleus called the Trait-Carré. However I understand that a new distillery doesn’t necessarily have the budget for a graphic designer so I am going to be a little forgiving at this point in my review.

In The Glass   9/10

The gin displays an amber hue in the glass with that colour perhaps turning the corner towards copper. The nose is quite nice. Juniper arrives alongside a mild butterscotch sweetness and light scents of almond and vanilla. Citrus zest and red berries give the gin a light fruity quality and then a sort of menagerie of indistinct scents and smells arrive in a jumble giving me an impression of those dense evergreen forests that grow in the foothills next to the Rocky mountains. Ferns and mint, alpine flowers and even the mosses and soil on the forest floor are implied.

In The Mouth   54.5 /60

Caramel leads out with vanilla, juniper and bits of almond jumping in line behind. There is a push of coriander spice and a touch of alcohol heat (not surprising as this is a 48 % abv. spirit) and then a collection of botanical impressions which have that evergreen forest feel to them. The sweetness is a little surprising, then again a spirit aged in a quarter cask will pick up the vanillans and butterscotch like sweetness from the oak fibers more quickly than a spirit aged in a larger cask. On the second and third sips I believe I can taste some of that quarter cask rye whisky adding its flavour to the menagerie of flavours as well.

When I added ice to the gin I found myself thinking that the spirit tasted like a Old Fashioned Cocktail. It has just the right level of sweetness to be thoroughly enjoyed and the botanicals are acting in a similar way to citrus peel and aromatic bitters. I noticed that the Trait Carre website recommends sipping the gin over ice, and I find myself in total agreement.

In The Throat  14 /15

The finish is very whisky-like with lingering flavours of caramel and vanilla ebbing alongside juniper and coriander. Surprisingly the the finish is also very smooth with not even a hint of uncomfortable alcohol heat.

Finale: Juniper berry, spices and citrus fruit round off the tasting in style.

The Afterburn   9/10

When the aged gin sample from the Distillerie de Québec arrived on my doorstep I was both intrigued and concerned. I wondered if after 2 years in a quarter cask the spirit would have lost much of its character as a gin.  I also wanted to taste the spirit to see what had happened.

I learned that the spirit had indeed undergone a metamorphosis during its stay in quarter cask oak, however to my delight the juniper remained prominent in the flavour profile. What has been added is the smoothness and light sweetness which oak imparts as a spirit rest within its confines. This maturation has transformed the spirit from being a gin which we would primarily mix in cocktails, to a whisky-like gin which we can now sip with complete enjoyment over ice. I am impressed!

You may read some of my other Gin Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.

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My Final Score is out of 100 and you may (loosely) interpret that score as follows:

0-25     A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49   Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59  You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69   Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74    Now we have a fair mixing spirit.  Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79    You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84    We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89    Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94    Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+       I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.

Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and  Bronze medal  scale as follows:

70 – 79.5    Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5     Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95         Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+            Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)