New York-based wine and spirits company Sovereign Brands has produced a new and rather exceptional gin called McQueen and the Violet Fog. This contains a wealth of botanicals, and six of them are said to be “found in no other gin in the world”.
The McQueen and the Violet Fog Gin bottle is statuesque and features an embossed crown and decorative logo. The gin takes its name from a poem of the same name, which recounts a meeting with a strange rock band. The poem’s final two verses are emblazoned on the back of the bottle.
This flavourful and aromatic gin contains 21 botanicals and is made in Brazil. That in itself would tempt any sipper to give this a try, and I don’t think they will be disappointed. Violet Fog is made by a rather “unique” method, allowing two distilling stages to combine into a single distillation process.
The chosen botanicals are first macerated in a neutral sugar cane spirit. Sugar cane spirits are dominant in South America, Central America and the Caribbean. This first step extracts valuable flavour compounds and essential oils. Then those aforementioned six unique botanicals are infused into the gin via vapour infusion through a copper basket or Carter Head. This is used by distillers when they are handling delicate ingredients.
There is the classic and obligatory gin flavouring of juniper, along with a healthy belt of citrus and flowers, basil, rosemary, fennel, calamansi lime, star anise, and acai, a fruit from a palm grown in Brazil.
This is a distinctive and full-flavoured gin that is ideal for sipping simply over ice.
Notes:
Appearance: water white and clear
Nose: predominantly citrus with a hint of fresh herbs
Palate: medium sweet, citrus peel, warming spice and a little red berry. Smooth and well-balanced
Finish: medium length
Alcohol strength: 40% abv.
McQueen and the Violet Fog is a well-crafted and delicious gin. It’s bound to be popular with cocktail aficionados and will be a great addition to any drinks shelf.