The Gin Pira

Pira is a latest gin recipe created by Maison Drouin that continues to explore the aromatic heritage of Normandy.

In this new edition, pear takes center stage. Normandy poiré pears are combined with juniper, vanilla, lemon, black pepper, and iris root—the flower that adorns the roofs of Normandy’s thatched cottages.

Pira is crafted following the same principles as the original Le Gin; each botanical is macerated and redistilled separately to optimize aroma extraction.

The distillates are then blended before bottling.

“Alongside the apple, the pear is another emblematic fruit of Normandy. In the Pays d’Auge, pear trees are generally planted along the edges of apple orchards. These tall trees, which can reach over 15 meters high with deep roots, make excellent windbreaks for the more fragile apple trees... Normandy’s pear trees can live up to 300 years. The poiré pear is a small pear with subtle aromas, combining acidity and tannins. With Pira, I wanted to work around this fruit, choosing a variety typical of Domfront: the Domfront pear.”
— Guillaume Drouin

Pira offers rich aromas of white fruits, black pepper, and iris, always with the aromatic intensity characteristic of Drouin’s gins.

Tasting suggestion:
Enjoy neat or in a gin and tonic, garnished with a thin slice of pear or an elderflower blossom.

World Best Botanical Gin 2024 at the World Drinks Awards!