First Impressions
McQueen Mocha was launched in June 2016 as one of four world-first botanical gins from the Trossachs Distillery. The key distinction: cocoa nibs and coffee are distilled botanicals, not flavourings added after distillation. They are macerated in hot spirit overnight alongside juniper, grapefruit, vanilla, and coriander, then the still is fired. The result is a gin where coffee and chocolate are integrated into the spirit rather than sitting on top.
Tasting
Cocoa nibs, coffee, juniper, grapefruit, vanilla, and coriander. The nose is dark chocolate with espresso bean and pine juniper. On the palate at 42%, surprisingly traditional gin notes — juniper, grapefruit pith, bitter orange — then dark roasted coffee and bitter chocolate emerge. Vanilla and cream with chocolate at the edges. The finish is dark roast coffee with lingering bitter chocolate and persistent juniper.
The Bottom Line
McQueen Mocha earns a 7 — a genuinely innovative gin where coffee and chocolate enhance rather than replace the juniper. The distillation-not-flavouring approach produces a spirit of far more subtlety than you'd expect. Best with premium tonic, coffee beans, and a grapefruit garnish. At £15, this is astonishing value for a world-first botanical gin. A Trossachs original.
