We’re firm believers here at Craft Gin Club that combining your favourite flavours with your favourite spirit (clue: GIN!) is a win-win. Love gin? Check. Love chocolate? Check. Love chocolate with a twist? Check. Well, you’re in for a treat… Welsh father and son duo, Andy and Rhys have created a remarkable gin that will leave chocolate (and gin) fans with a huge smile on their face…
This experimental gin will certainly perk up tipple time - it’s got all of our favourite tastes: sweet, salty, some gentle heat and a slight bitterness that you’d expect from your favourite bar of decadent chocolate with similar ingredients. It’s a total gin masterpiece if we do say so ourselves - so if you’re a chocoholic, you’d be crazy not to try it!
So what is a Discovery Gin? In addition to the Gin of the Month sent to Craft Gin Club members, every month a panel of experts select an adventurous gin for connoisseurs looking for something out of the ordinary. This month, we’ve got the perfect treat for chocolate lovers that will totally upgrade your G&T and cocktail recipes…
Mallows Chocolate Chilli & Sea Salt Gin
Tasting notes
Chocolate, juniper and fruity tones come through on the nose and continue onto the palate. There, bittersweet dark chocolate notes are complemented by a touch of chilli heat and a delicate sprinkling of sea salt. The finish is long and wonderfully moreish.
Botanicals
Juniper, Coriander Seeds, Orris Root, Orange Peel, Dark Chocolate, Chilli, and Halen Môn Welsh Sea Salt.
ABV 40%
Meet the makers
A family affair: Rhys and Andy Mallows
Father and son (and dynamic) duo Andy and Rhys dreamt of creating a special distillery after previously working together for a number of years - and wanted to combine an ‘old head’ with the exuberance of youth.
And that’s where Mallows Family Distillery, based in the heart of south Wales, was born. Being proud Welshmen who love the country, they wanted to bring their heritage and culture to the world. Keeping their family values was a top priority…
Their work culture is centred around 5 pillars: trust, honesty, respect, teamwork, and grit. “We believe in these values and everyone that joins us is interviewed against these values”, says Andy.
The story behind Mallows Chocolate Chilli & Sea Salt Gin
The burning question? The inspiration behind the iconic combination of chocolate, chilli and sea salt: “My wife Kathryn is a food teacher and has given me her passion for food. Our research shows consumers want to explore different taste profiles, so we create flavours for the curious gin consumer”, says Andy. And this epic gin inception began during the pandemic…
“We repurposed the distillery to produce hand sanitiser for the NHS. After a 16-hour shift, Kathryn and I would watch the Great British Bake Off. One contestant made a chocolate, chilli and sea salt cake. Kathryn then baked me one, and being a chocaholic, I loved it!”
And that was the beginning of something special: “We began putting the flavours together, developing the gin, and added Halon Môn Sea Salt to give it that local edge.”
Ensuring the taste is spot-on is a labour of love: “Getting the balance of flavours right means hours of tasting sessions before we arrive at the perfect combination. I’m lucky to work with Jordan (Head of Technical), who has the patience to support me in developing the ranges!”
Just one small sniff of the bottle and you’ll be able to detect each tantalising ingredient - and it’ll have you salivating! And just imagine using it in a ginny espresso martini!
And it’s not only magical as a tipple, says Andy: “My brother-in-law is an expert cheesecake maker and we’ve used this in a chocolate cheesecake! It was awesome in brownies, too.” Might be time to get our bake on…
How to drink Mallows Chocolate Chilli & Sea Salt Gin
Mallows Chocolate Chilli & Sea Salt G&T
50ml Mallows Chocolate, Chilli & Sea Salt Gin
50ml Tonic water
Cocoa powder & sea salt, to rim
Chilli, to garnish
Sea Salt Chocolate Espresso Martini
50ml Mallows Chocolate, Chilli & Sea Salt Gin
15ml coffee liqueur
30ml coffee
Cocoa powder, to garnish
Pack a cocktail shaker with ice. Add all your ingredients. Shake energetically to create an airy foam for the top of your drink. Strain confidently into a chilled cocktail glass (pouring quickly will also help keep that foam on the top). Dust cocoa powder on top to garnish, using the edge of paper or stencils to create a pattern.
Chocolate Chilli Flip
Credit: claudine_drinks
60ml Mallows Chocolate, Chilli & Sea Salt Gin
20ml Lucano cream (if you don’t have this, then double up on the Baileys)
20ml Baileys
10ml Orgeat (almond syrup)
Egg white
Pinch of salt
Combine all of the ingredients together in your cocktail shaker, shake well and strain into a wine glass or cocktail coupe. Serve alongside some dark chocolate.
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