McQueen Sweet Citrus Gin – Italy in a Bottle

Gin for me is not just a drink, it is much more than that. It is an experience, it invokes feeling, it transports you to an exotic place, it brings back a memory, it is not simply Gin.

Gin is complex, it is personal, it starts with botanicals – juniper (of course), then maybe something more exotic like lemongrass, pomello peels, sichuan peppercorn or something simple and classic like lemon or coriander.

Each of these conjurs up something different within the liquid – it will affect what and how you taste it. Citrus can take you to the shores of the Phillipines, or the warmth of Sevilla and equally Grapefruit can take you to desert states of India.

One such gin that does this is the McQueen’s Sweet Citrus Gin. Fill your glass with ice, frozen lemons, fresh oranges, basil and a smattering of black peppercorns, top with Elderflower Tonic (I used Bottlegreen) and this will transport you straight to the lemon gardens on the Amalfi Coast where the trees are bursting with citrus even on the bleakest of English winter days.

While not overly juniper forward, McQueen’s have been very clever here to get the sweet/sour balance just right, where you know the bottle is packed full of oranges, lemons, limes and grapefruit but in just the right quanities so that it isn’t too tart, it isn’t too sweet, it is just right. The basil and black pepper garnish add a little touch of freshness, warmth and spice that simply uplift a standard Gin & Tonic.

Enjoy!