The Nolet family may have a history that dates back more than three centuries, but its gins are undoubtedly redefining the spirit for today’s connoisseur. Noticeably absent of the traditional juniper-forward flavor, the fruity and floral NOLET’S Silver Gin and spicy and savory NOLET’S Reserve Gin are distinctly modern.
“People are always looking for great quality and great taste,” says eleventh generation distiller Carl Nolet, Jr. “That’s what NOLET’S Gin offers. Consumers want to support authentic brands that have a deeply rooted heritage like the products we produce. This authenticity is what makes our brands stand out from competitors and enhances the reason why consumers believe in our products.”
From its rich heritage to its unique use of fresh botanicals, it’s time to get to know all about NOLET’S Finest Gins.
The Heritage of NOLET’S Gin
Founded in Schiedam, Holland in 1691 by Joannes Nolet, the Nolet Distillery has remained a prominent fixture in the city’s distilling history, surviving throughout the French Revolution and two World Wars. The distillery has been exporting spirits to the United States since the late 19th century. Today, the Nolet Distillery is the oldest distillery in Holland that is still in the hands of the founding family, a testament to the strength of the Nolet family. Their tradition of distilling spirits continues through tenth generation owner Carolus Nolet and his two sons, Carl Nolet, Jr., and Bob Nolet. Together their passion for this craft inspired them to create gins of unparalleled distinction for the 21st century.
For centuries, the character of gin has been dominated by juniper berries: piney, prickly, bitter. The Nolets didn’t care for the juniper‐heavy taste of traditional-style gins. They wanted to challenge themselves, and the industry, with a new expression of the spirit’s potential. In the creation of the NOLET’S Silver Gin recipe, Carl Jr. and Bob began to daydream together with their father, to experiment with exotic botanicals. Their search resulted in the gin’s signature botanicals of rose, peach and raspberry. NOLET’S Silver is a progressive and approachable departure from the typical dry gin. The gin has no carbs, no sugar and contains only 117 calories per 1.5 oz serve. NOLET’S is also Non-GMO Project Verified.
NOLET’S Silver has also caught the attention of some of the world’s most respected folks behind the bar.
“NOLET’S Silver is a refined and luxurious gin, perfectly crafted and beautifully textured with a hint of sweetness,” says Steve Mazzuca, Beverage Consultant and former partner and General Manager at NYC’s Bathtub Gin. “ It is easy to see how much care the Nolet family puts into each bottle. Their product works so well because of how it is constructed, a modern-style gin (not your father’s gin) with its signature blend of botanicals, making for a perfect craft cocktail or simply served on the rocks.”
NOLET’S Reserve is the family’s quintessential “sipping gin” that captures the aromas of a variety of spices and botanicals, allowing for an intense and layered long-lasting taste. A personal creation of Carolus Sr.’s, four decades in the making, NOLET’S Reserve is handmade in small batches, personally supervised by him. Only a few hundred bottles are released each year and they are all individually numbered by hand and presented in a distinguished gift box. In his own words, NOLET’S Reserve is “a gin of unprecedented excellence that builds on our family’s rich history.”
“I like to say that ‘Seeing is Believing.’ Up until the COVID-19 pandemic hit, the doors to our family distillery have always been open – since the late 1970s in fact,” says Nolet, Jr. “The doors will be open again and when that happens we will continue to invite all consumers to experience for themselves all the care, attention, and expertise fully on display for everyone to see.”
The Botanicals and Process of NOLET’S Gin
NOLET’S Silver Gin features real botanicals of rose, peach and raspberry which are specially selected, individually macerated and then distilled. This method results in a smooth, balanced spirit with soft floral aromas, a fruit-driven palate, and a classic dry finish. For Carolus Sr.’s NOLET’S Reserve, he found the ideal botanical expression for that silken luxury: spicy saffron from the Middle East (the most expensive botanical in the world), and exquisite verbena, picked in North Africa.
NOLET’S Finest Gin are distilled in a specially commissioned copper pot still, Still #19, that combines pot still and column still distillations into one process. The pot still provides the initial distillation while the column still refines the spirit to achieve the precise botanical balance. NOLET’S Gins are crafted with a secret botanical base in which each botanical used is individually macerated and then distilled, allowing for precise and intense expressions of its characteristics.
The secret botanical base is then infused and blended with a signature the botanical flavors in a carefully conceived order. After this, a resting period is allowed to properly marry the spirit flavors and aromas. A Nolet family member tastes and approves each batch before bottling to ensure the highest standards of quality.
Enjoying NOLET’S Gin
While certainly flavorful enough to be enjoyed on its own, NOLET’S Silver Gin serves as inspiration for a wide range of innovative cocktails and reinvented classics.
“The unique flavor profile of NOLET’S Silver Gin brings a huge amount of versatility in cocktailing and food pairing,” says Nolet Jr. “Everything from a simple martini to uniquely crafted cocktails can be made with NOLET’S Silver. If I had to pick one cocktail, it would have to be the Vesper made with NOLET’S Silver Gin, Ketel One Vodka and a splash of Lillet Blanc. But at the end of the day, when I sit across from America’s greatest bartenders – and we can do this again as bars and restaurants are slowly opening up – my preference is to let them recommend their favorite NOLET’S Silver cocktail creations to me.”
Jason Asher, the co-founder of Barter & Shake, says he prefers to use NOLET’S Silver in citrus cocktails.
“My favorite cocktail to make a variation of is the French 75,” he says. “This gin also works great with the addition of fruit in cocktails such as a Tom Collins.”
Check out some other NOLET’S Silver Gin recipes below.
NOLET’S Silver Dutch Mule
- 1.25 oz NOLET’S Silver Gin
- 4 oz Ginger Beer
- Grapefruit Wheel
- Mint
Build in a Burgundy glass with ice. First add a grapefruit wheel, then ice, NOLET’S Silver and ginger beer. Garnish with a sprig of mint.
NOLET’S Silver Bees Knees
- 2 oz NOLET’S Silver Gin
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.5 oz Honey Syrup (2:1 honey to water ratio)
In a cocktail shaker, mix fresh lemon juice and honey syrup. Add NOLET’S Silver Gin, shake with cracked ice and strain into a chilled coupe glass. Garnish with a lemon peel.
NOLET’S Silver French 75
- 1.5 oz NOLET’S Silver Gin
- 0.75 oz Fresh Lemon Juice
- 0.75 oz Simple Syrup
- 1 oz Champagne
Add all ingredients except Champagne into an ice-filled shaker. Shake well and strain into a Champagne flute. Top with Champagne. Garnish with a lemon twist.
To learn more about NOLET’S Gin, visit www.NOLETSGin.com and follow along at @NOLETSGins. 21+, please.
Our Best Stories Delivered Daily
