It’s weird to think we’re coming to the end of another year – time goes fast when it’s measured in gin. Today’s post is looking at November’s offerings from Craft Gin Club, and I’m pleased to report it was a much more positive result than October. November’s box had a fantastic autumnal theme too. With a citrus based gin distilled in North Zealand, this month’s box was inspired by the Danish art of hygge, known as the “art of creating a warm and cosy atmosphere.” I’m all for embracing the season, so I was pretty keen on delving into this month’s offerings.
Disclaimer: I am not an affiliate for Craft Gin Club, and have not been compensated in any way for this post. My gin subscription is ordered and paid for out of my own money and all opinions are my own.
What’s in the Box?
Mad Owl Special Edition Gin
Lixir Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water
Lixir Ginger Beer
Yummycomb Sea Salted Caramel Belgian Milk Chocolate & Honeycomb Slab
Eat Real Lentil Chips Chilli & Lemon Flavour
Calyx Wild Apple & Hibiscus
Dash Soda Water – Rhubarb & Fiery Ginger
Nuts For Smoked Paprika Mix
Gin & Stormy cocktail syrup
Grapefruit and cinnamon garnish
Mad Owl Special Edition Gin
Anything with owls on the bottle wins my vote, so instantly, I was desperate to like the Mad Owl Special Edition Gin. Thankfully, it didn’t disappoint. Exclusively distilled for Craft Gin Club members, Mad Owl Gin is distilled in North Zealand, Denmark, and boasts “citrus with a rush of zesty fruit.” They certainly weren’t messing around – the citrus notes are instantly noticeable, combining a refreshing blend of lemon, orange and lemon verbena. Citrus is certainly the headliner when it comes to this particular gin, and I’m totally here for it. The citrus notes certainly provide a refreshing feel to the gin, so you wouldn’t immediately put it down to being an “autumnal” gin, however, the aromatic notes of juniper, coriander and angelica root really help to give it a bold, warming flavour, making it instantly apparent why this was the choice for November’s box.
Lixir Pink Grapefruit Tonic Water
I like how they opted to go for a pink grapefruit flavoured tonic water to pair with this gin – I feel like the obvious choice would have been a lemon/orange based tonic. While they’ve still gone with the citrus flavours, I feel pink grapefruit is a slightly more adventurous choice. Lixir Tonic Water has featured quite a bit in previous boxes, so I knew instantly that it would be a good choice, but I hadn’t actually tried the pink grapefruit flavour before, so I wasn’t really sure what to expect. While it’s not a flavour I’d choose every time, I have to admit that the pink grapefruit flavour paired brilliantly with the Mad Owl Special Edition Gin. It gave an extra level to the citrus notes but had a level of bitterness that brought plenty of balance to it. Plus, I LOVED the colour of it!
Snacks
We all know I have regular beef with the snack offerings, but I’m delighted to say that this month, I was much happier. We need to start by talking about the Yummycomb chocolate slab. Holy. Shit. I’m not the biggest chocolate fan, but this particular bar combined two of my favourite sweet flavours – honeycomb and salted caramel. I wasn’t convinced it would be any good, as I’ve tried chocolate bars with these flavours before, and they’ve been a bit of a letdown having not been very generous with caramel/honeycomb, however, I was pleasantly surprised. The salted caramel was there throughout, and while it wasn’t too overpowering, it was just enough to provide some balance from the sweetness. As for the honeycomb, they were super generous with it – there were decent sized pieces within the whole bar, and combined with the salted caramel, it was AMAZING. Will definitely be investing in some of this in the future.
Initially, I wasn’t too thrilled with the rest of the offerings, however, drunk me completely let her guard down and tried way more than I usually do. In particular, I was pleasantly surprised by the chilli and lemon lentil chips. It wasn’t a flavour I’d normally go for, but I was drunk and desperate for snacks, so I decided to give them a try. They were actually really tasty – the chilli gave a bit of a kick but it wasn’t too overpowering, and it was nicely balanced with the lemon. Plus, the chips overall were really light, and NGL, I could have eaten more of them. I think the Dash Soda Water should also get a shoutout, because the rhubarb and ginger flavour worked so well with the Mad Owl Gin – the ginger actually gave it a little extra warmth making it the perfect tipple for a cold evening.
The Cocktail: Gin & Stormy
The Gin & Stormy is a gin-based twist on the classic Dark & Stormy, usually made with rum. Alongside the Mad Owl Gin, it made use of the syrup and the Lixir Ginger Beer. I have a bit of a love-hate relationship with ginger beer – it’s usually something I only drink when I’m SEVERELY hungover and Sprite won’t do (I’m talking dry-heaving based hangovers), however, if I’m presented with it in a cocktail, I’m never disappointed. That was certainly the case with this one. While it’s not a cocktail I’d choose if I were given a menu, it was still one that I enjoyed. The ginger beer paired beautifully with the citrus notes of the gin, and at the same time it gave a bit of a kick that wasn’t too overpowering. Overall, it was a great cocktail for the season, but at the same time, it was really light and refreshing.
Final Thoughts
I’m pleased to report that I was much happier with November’s offerings than I was with last month’s. The snacks were actually pretty good, the G&T recipe was great, and the cocktail was a refreshing autumnal treat – all in all, a much better box than October, and I especially loved the hygge theme!
Sassy Cat Lady 
This would be such a great gift idea!
Danielle | thereluctantblogger.co.uk
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