Sipsmith Orange & Cacao Gin review
Love chocolate, orange and gin in equal measure? This Sipsmith gin, flavoured with citrus and cocoa nibs, might just be for you. Read the results of our taste test to find out more.
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Sipsmith Orange & Cacao Gin – 40% ABV
Rating: 4/5
In a nutshell: Most citrus-infused gins will have you longing for lazy summer evenings or dreaming of the Mediterranean, thanks to their Spanish and Italian influences. But Sipsmith’s Orange & Cacao gin is reminiscent of an entirely different holiday. With its sweet cocoa scent, it reminds us of Christmastime and festive wedges of chocolate orange.
Full review of Sipsmith Orange & Cacao gin
Many of us agree that chocolate and orange are the perfect pairing, thanks to the mix of sweet and sharp. However, we urge you to try this even if that isn’t normally your thing. It's still gin – not a sugary chocolate cocktail – so notes of juniper and aromatic botanicals will please traditional gin lovers.
In fact, Sipsmith have added 50% more juniper to its Orange & Cacao variety than its London Dry gin. As a result, the gin deftly swerves the novelty factor, and instead harks back to the citrus gins that were popular centuries ago.
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Other botanicals in this gin include orange blossom and black cardamom, as well as liquorice, which adds sweetness and complexity.
And, that initial hit of chocolate is actually cacao nibs, not creamy milk chocolate. This inclusion results in a much deeper chocolate flavour, rather than a drink that tastes as though you’ve just added a wedge of chocolate orange (though don’t let us stop you from experimenting with your garnish). You can really taste the chocolate in the finish, and it’s delightfully warming.
Instead of a light, summery tipple, Sipsmith have created a gin that makes us feel a little bit cosy. Gin and tonic might not be a drink that we'd naturally gravitate towards in winter, but we absolutely would with this offering.
With that in mind, you might be wondering if this is a good citrus gin option for summer. When the sun is out, it probably won’t be our first choice, but if the weather turns a bit too chilly to comfortably sit outside without a jacket, we’d be very happy to have a glass of this. It's very deserving of a place in your drinks cabinet.
The perfect pour
To play up the chocolate orange flavour, switch out the vodka in this chocolate orange cocktail for a really sweet treat.
Read our full review of citrus gins
This review was last updated in June 2019. If you have any questions or suggestions for future reviews, or spot anything that has changed in price or availability, please get in touch at goodfoodwebsite@immediate.co.uk. For information on alcohol guidelines, read our guide to drinking responsibly.
