First Impressions
McQueen Gin is headquartered in Callander, at the gateway to the Trossachs National Park in central Scotland. Their Super Premium Dry — introduced in late 2016 — won Double Gold at the 2017 San Francisco World Spirits Competition within months of launch. Bulgarian juniper, grapefruit, lime, vanilla, grains of paradise, cassia, and iris petals are small-batch distilled and hand-bottled, each bottle hand-dipped in wax to seal.
Tasting
The nose is forest floor with iris petals and lemon sherbet. On the palate at 42%, full-bodied juniper with rich vanilla providing a creamy undertow, crisp lime brightness, grains of paradise heat, and cassia spice. The vanilla divides opinion: some praise the honeyed sweetness as something special, others find it too prominent. The finish is crisp lime with cassia prickles and persistent vanilla.
The Bottom Line
McQueen Super Premium earns a 7 — a gin whose vanilla either delights or divides. The Double Gold at San Francisco confirms the quality, and the earthy, forest-floor character from the Trossachs inspiration is genuinely appealing. Best in a Martini where the vanilla and juniper create something special. At £30 for 50cl, Trossachs craft gin with a gold-medal pedigree and a wax-sealed bottle.
