Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka

About Grey Goose Le Citron Vodka

Grey Goose, one of the most notorious luxury vodka labels, is produced in France. The idea for a premium vodka for the US market was realized in 1997 by the late Sidney Frank, founder and CEO of Sidney Frank Importing CO. The French brand was sold to Bacardi in 2004. The original recipe for the vodka was developed by the Maître de Chai for Grey Goose, François Thibault, in Cognac, France. François Thibault, who seamlessly transitioned his skills from cognac to vodka production, oversaw the first vodka ever to be produced in the Maître de Chai tradition.

The water used in production comes from the natural spring, Gensac-la-Pallue, in the Cognac region, where it gets filtered through Champagne limestone. Grey Goose is crafted with locally sourced soft winter wheat grown in Picardy (known as “the breadbasket of France”), a wheat-growing region in France. The grain is sown in October and harvested in August. This wheat, classified as “superior bread-making wheat,” is the only grain used in Grey Goose. According to Thibault, soft wheat, as opposed to hard wheat, is better for distilling, the four additional months of growth in comparison to summer wheat yielding a more durable grain.

Grey Goose’s ingredients are column-distilled in a facility in the same region. Enzymes are used to break down the carbohydrates into fermentable sugars, and the fermentation takes place continuously over six cascading tanks. The wash is then distilled once into spirit using a five-step process. The calcium-rich Gensac-La-Pallue spring water is drawn from 150 meters below the blending facility in Cognac. The spirit is filtered through a copper filtration system in order to infuse it with additional flavor. The distillate is sent to a plant in Cognac, France, dedicated to the sole purpose of bottling Grey Goose. The resultant spirit is cut with spring water, bottled at 80 proof, and corked.

Grey Goose has several flavored expressions in their lineup, all of them crafted with their soft winter wheat vodka. Le Citron is a super-bright spirit that is crafted with lemon essential oils that are made with lemons from the Menton region of France. Known for their thicker skin and milder flavor, these proved to be the perfect choice for a premium lemon-flavored vodka. After extracting the essential oils from the thick skins of the lemons, they are concentrated into oil extract and blended with the vodka. Le Citron is bottled at 80 proof, higher than is usual for similar flavored expressions.

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About Vodka

Historians are not clear on the exact origin of vodka since different sources link its beginning to both Russia and Poland. But one thing is clear: this somewhat simple spirit, first used as a medicinal concoction, has become one of the most versatile drinks in the world.

It can be distilled from any type of grains, potatoes, or even grapes worldwide. Due to its simplicity, this unaged spirit’s main flavor factor is the quality of water and the ingredients used in the distillation process.

Primarily used in cocktails, vodka can also stand its ground when enjoyed neat.