Craft Gin Club Subscription Box Review | December 2021

It’s weird to think we’re now on my final Craft Gin Club review of 2021. It’s actually a bit late, as I’m currently writing this in 2022, but that’s been Christmas for you – it’s just been nonstop. Any spare time I’ve had has been spent worrying about Omicron shitting on our Christmas plans, drinking a vat of prosecco and wrapping presents. But enough about that, let’s talk gin.

Last year’s December offerings from Craft Gin Club were a fabulous festive treat, so I was looking forward to what they’d send in 2021. Once again, they sent a box full of festive goodies, with more mixers and nibbles, as well as a very special Yuletide Gin from The Orkney Distillery in Scotland.

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?

Kirkjuvagr Yuletide Gin

London Essence Co. Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic

London Essence Co. Ginger Ale

Bibite Polara Melograno Drink

Copperpot Christmas Spiced Fudge

Amarula Ethiopian Coffee Cream Liqueur

Cheesies Jingle Bites

Mackie’s Turkey and Stuffing Potato Crisps

Awful Posh Mince Pie Finest Popcorn

Lindt Lindor Milk Chocolate Truffles

Angostura Bitters

Fireside Fizz cocktail syrup

Orange and redcurrant garnish

Kirkjuvagr Yuletide Gin 

A special festive edition distilled exclusively for Craft Gin Club members, Kirkjuvagr Yuletide Gin is described as “Christmas in a bottle,” and I have to agree with them. Normally, festive gins are very hit and miss for me, as I sometimes find the flavours a bit overpowering, but thankfully, it wasn’t the case with this one. It combined a selection of winter-flavours with traditional botanicals such as cinnamon, nutmeg, frankincense, ginger, and orange peel, along with light and subtle floral flavours which gave it a bit of a modern twist. At first, you’re greeted with a festive combination of cinnamon, clove, and citrus, but what follows is a soft floral flavour combined with hints of frankincense and myrrh. To finish, you’re left with the warmth of the ginger and nutmeg, making it the perfect gin for getting you into the festive spirit (pun not intended). I really enjoyed this gin – while the flavours weren’t too overpowering, they were still prominent, and the combination worked incredibly well. I’ve yet to try it with the London Essence Co. ginger ale, but I feel as though it’s going to be a really good match. Not just because of the warming and wintery flavours, but also because London Essence Co. ginger ale is fantastic. I think we should also take note of the beautiful bottle this gin came in, which is decorated with a deep red colour and gold lettering – yes, it really is a whole package of gold, frankincense and myrrh. I will 100% be keeping it and shoving some lights in it for next Christmas.

London Essence Co. Pomelo & Pink Pepper Tonic

London Essence Co. tonic has featured in a number of past boxes, and it’s always been a favourite of mine so I was more than happy to discover it with this month’s gin. The pomelo and pink pepper flavour is one I’ve had before, and I absolutely love it, so it didn’t disappoint when it was paired with the Kirkjuvagr Yuletide Gin. It’s sweet without being too sickly, and the pink pepper gives it just a smidge of warmth which makes it go really well with the festive flavours of the gin. Plus, it created a beautiful pink gin and tonic, which of course, is a winner.

Snacks 

Once again, I had mixed feelings on this month’s snacks. First of all – Cheesies. Bloody Cheesies can piss off. I wish there was a way I could tell Craft Gin Club I don’t want anything cheese-based in my boxes. They were donated to my father-in-law. Also, I really don’t get what the obsession has been with Angostura Bitters over the last few months. I don’t touch the stuff and probably never will, yet I had three in my cupboard from earlier boxes. Again, no. The coffee liqueur also went down the sink as I bloody hate anything that combines alcohol and cream – it’s vile. 

However, before you call me a miserable bitch, there were some positives. Let’s start with the Lindt chocolates, which you can’t go wrong with – everybody loves Lindt chocolates. The turkey and stuffing crisps were also a nice change and made a tasty snack while I was drunk and looking for something to graze on during my nightly Grey’s Anatomy binge.

The Cocktail: Fireside Fizz

The Fireside Fizz cocktail combined the Kirkjuvagr Yuletide Gin with the Bibite Polara Melograno drink, but unfortunately, it wasn’t for me. The main ingredient in the mixer was pomegranate, a flavour which I’m not all that keen on. I can see why it was the choice for this month’s cocktail, as on paper you’d expect it to pair well with the gin. For me, however, it just didn’t work. It was far too sweet, and honestly, there wasn’t much “fizz” there at all. Next time you have a cocktail with “fizz” in the title, throw in some prosecco at least.

Final Thoughts

I can’t say I enjoyed this month’s Christmas box as much as I did 2020’s – in particular I feel as though the snacks and the cocktail let the side down a bit. However, there’s no denying that December’s gin was a wonderful treat and really captured the festive flavours. I’ve still got some left because, as I mentioned, I largely smashed the prosecco throughout December, so the gin took a bit of a backseat. Alongside how much I loved this month’s gin, I also want to give props to the choice of tonic, as it’s one of my favourites and it was an excellent pairing.

Overall Rating for December’s Box: 6/10

Catch Up on Previous Reviews Here