Sangfroid Distilling Co.’s new Foraged Citrus gin gets its flavor from locally foraged trifoliate oranges, a hardy Asian orange that helps give it a flavor profile similar to a London dry gin, and rosemary, provided by New Brooklyn Farms in Mount Rainier.
The use of trifoliate oranges is an example of making the best of a problem. Originally planted by gardeners, the oranges have spread, becoming an invasive species in Southern states, largely because the thorny branches aren’t eaten by deer.
Trifoliate oranges, which produce a small, yellow and bitter fruit, are not yet considered a serious problem in Maryland, although they have been spotted in Magruder Park. But given the experience of states like North Carolina, they will likely expand further.
While the fruit may not be very good for eating due to its sour taste, that’s an asset when it’s used to make gin, and some recipes even recommend putting a slice in a gin and tonic instead of a lime.
Sangfroid’s owners also helped New Brooklyn Farms plant a deer fence around its Hyattsville plot and planted apple trees for use in brandy in a few years.
