Halloween is incoming - so it’s only right we ask you… ‘trick or treat?’. Here at Craft Gin Club, we can certainly help you with the treat element. If you’re looking for a treat this Halloween, meet Craft Gin Club’s October Discovery Gin: York Gin Chocolate & Orange!
If you love chocolate, you’ll adore this multi-award-winning spirit crafted in Europe’s most haunted city. Dangerously moreish, it’s a properly grown-up spirit, with beautifully balanced, unsweetened notes of rich cocoa nibs and lively orange.
It’s perfect for long autumn nights - when the ghosts and ghouls of the ancient city of York come out to play – and it’s also great for celebrating Bonfire Night and Christmas! After all, Guy Fawkes was born in York and this gin’s flavours were inspired by Terry’s Chocolate Orange.
What exactly 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 October, we’ve got something special in store for chocolate lovers keen for a ‘spirited’ Halloween…
York Gin Chocolate & Orange Gin
Tasting Notes
On the nose, expect aromas of dark, rich chocolate and vibrant sweet orange, with a juniper overtone. Take a sip, and experience dry and lightly spiced notes of vanilla and rich cocoa on the palate, followed by a luxuriously smooth finish.
Botanicals
Juniper, Coriander Seed, Angelica Root, Cardamom, Cinnamon Bark, Dried Lemon Peel, Orris Root, Black Pepper, Grains of Paradise, Cocoa Nibs, Fresh Orange.
ABV 42.5%
Meet the Makers
York Gin’s motto is ‘history in the tasting’. From the very beginning, York’s storied past inspired the team’s botanical experiments, leading to editions like York Gin Grey Lady, inspired by a ghost that haunts a York theatre.
York Gin Chocolate & Orange is no exception – it’s steeped in the fascinating (and sometimes spooky!) stories of the ancient city.
“York proudly holds the title of ‘most haunted city in Europe’. And a variety of characters have made their mark here, from Guy Fawkes to the famous highwayman Dick Turpin. But enough of all these tricks - with York Gin Chocolate & Orange, we’ve created a real treat!
”
Not only does York Gin Chocolate & Orange lend itself well to the spookiest time of the year – the iconic flavour combination has a long history with the city of York.
Emma explains, “Less than a mile from The Swan pub where we first had the idea for York Gin, you’ll find the old Terry’s Chocolate Factory. It’s here that the Chocolate Orange was invented in 1932 and made for decades.”
They may be inspired by the past, but the artisans at York Gin have their eye firmly on the future too, starting with their commitment to sustainability. They run the distillery with 100% renewable electricity and their packaging is all plastic-free.
The folks at York Gin are always looking for exciting ways to put new spins on old stories. “We make dry gins – admittedly sometimes with unusual botanicals – but we’re traditionalists at heart. While we were inspired by Terry’s Chocolate Orange, we didn’t want to replicate the sweetness of it,” says Emma.
They took nine classic botanicals used to make their signature London Dry and created a base that allowed them to experiment with ingredients from across the globe. In the end, it came down to top-quality cocoa nibs and exquisite Valencian oranges. “That and a bit of distiller’s magic – courtesy of our distiller Harry” says Emma.
The final product took the gin world by storm, winning over critics across the industry, from Susy Atkins of the Telegraph to Craft Gin Club’s committee of tastemakers.
Be sure to snap up a bottle in time for Halloween from our shop. While you enjoy it, be sure to admire the bottle. You’ll spy a cat sitting on the walls of York on its label.
“The cat is one of York’s symbols – visitors can follow a ‘Cat Trail’ of statues attached to many city centre buildings. Cats are synonymous with gin – surviving bottles from the 19th century have drawings of cats on them, and there is a type of gin called Old Tom. The York Gin cat is inspired by one particular feline that appeared in a 17th-century woodcut of the Bottesford Witches. This familiar was named ‘Rutterkin’ meaning ‘a swaggering gallant’ – and we thought he had the perfect historical pedigree for our logo!”
Happy Halloween!
How to drink York Gin Chocolate & Orange
Chocolate Orange Espresso Martini
25ml York Gin Chocolate & Orange
15ml Tia Maria
10ml Cointreau
Shot of espresso
Combine all ingredients together and shake them in a Boston shaker with ice (to cool the coffee). Strain into a Martini glass, and add a dusting of chocolate to finish.
Chocolate Orange G&T
25ml York Gin Chocolate & Orange
Premium light tonic, to top
Orange peel, to garnish
Combine your gin and tonic in a tumbler or copa glass filled with ice. Garnish with orange peel and serve.
plus all of your
plus all of your
plus all of your