When I was contacted by Atom Brands and asked if I fancied trying their Jaffa Cake Gin, I’m not going to lie, I was a little dubious. I immediately heard chants of “#StopFuckingWithGin” ringing in my ears and was worried this could be a very sticky, sickly, sweet drink. However, knowing that Atom Brands were behind it really boosted my confidence (they are also responsible for Ableforth’s, Drinks by the Dram and one of my very favourites, That Boutique-y Gin Company) and in all honesty I was really, really intrigued!
There was so much hype surrounding this gin with reviews popping up all over my social media pages and web searches. ‘Heaven in a glass’ read one, ‘The best Negroni ever’ read another, not going to lie, I was falling for it all hook, line and sinker. Even the label makes the bold statement ‘It’ll make the best Negroni mankind has ever seen.‘ I’m a real sucker for a Negroni, could this really make the best one ever?!
Luckily it wasn’t long before my gin arrived and I was able to put it to the test.
Combining our favourite botanical, with fresh orange peel, cocoa powder and real Jaffa Cakes, this gin adds an entirely new side to the infamous cake Vs biscuit argument. On the nose, orange, chocolate, some sweetness and I’d say there was definitely a hint of juniper there. Taken neat, it is like drinking a Jaffa Cake, it genuinely is everything that it says on the bottle. The juniper is there, but I would say it does take a backseat to the driving force that it the unmistakable chocolatey orange flavour of Jaffa Cakes. I felt this gin really did run the risk of being overbearingly sweet, it is however very well executed and well balanced with the richness of the dark chocolate and the zest of the orange just knocking the head off the sugary side.
So, now for the real test…The Negroni!
Combining equal parts Gin, Campari and Sweet Vermouth over ice (25ml measures,) this Italian cocktail should traditionally be stirred, not shaken and served in an Old Fashioned glass, with an orange garnish.
Not going to lie, I found this to be a pretty cracking Negroni, the dark chocolate orange flavours from the Jaffa Cake Gin really add to the warmth and boldness of this delicious apéritif. So, the big question. Is it the best Negroni known to mankind, well I’ll let you be the judge of that, I guess it depends how you like your Negronis.
You can get your hands on a bottle of Jaffa Cake Gin from Master of Malt for £27.95 or, if you fancy trying out the Negroni recipe but don’t have any of the bits and pieces, they have conveniently put together a Negroni bundle which can be purchase for £45.35 and contains a bottle each of Martini Rosso sweet vermouth, Campari and Jaffa Cake Gin plus a Riedel crystal tumbler to serve it in.
Let me know how you guys get on, my next experiment is a Jaffa Cake Breakfast Martini.
**Bottle of Jaffa Cake Gin gifted by Atom Brands
Gin Obsessions 