Fresh Damask roses and flowers gathered from Syrah vines give Grand Nez Spirits Edition Limitee 2024 an unusually precise floral vocabulary. The French distillery produced only 500 bottles, using organic wheat alcohol as the base and bottling the gin at 42.4% ABV. Juniper, candied lemon and lemon verbena complete the published recipe, placing the flowers inside a dry citrus-and-herb structure rather than treating them as perfume.

The opening is delicate but not fragile. Rose brings a fresh-petal aroma, while the Syrah flowers offer a more elusive vineyard nuance that sits between floral lift and green vegetation. Candied lemon gives the citrus a softer, rounded edge than raw peel alone, and lemon verbena extends that brightness with a clean herbal line. Juniper remains present underneath, keeping the palate recognisably dry. A slight spice and mineral impression add definition as the flavours settle.

Its limited nature is tied to ingredients that cannot simply be standardised throughout the year. Fresh flowers depend on their moment of harvest, and that seasonal material shapes the gin's sense of place more convincingly than an ornamental label could. The organic wheat spirit contributes a smooth base without hiding the plants. Across the palate, the sequence moves from rose and lemon toward verbena, dry juniper and a lightly peppered finish, with enough restraint to avoid cosmetic sweetness.

For a long, fragrant drink, pour 4 cl over clear ice and add 10 cl of Fever-Tree Mediterranean Tonic Water. Add a narrow candied-lemon strip and a few dried Damask rose petals to the glass, with a second small arrangement on a dish beside it. The softer tonic supports the flowers and verbena, while the measured ratio keeps juniper and the mineral finish in view.