Elizabeth's Kitchen Diary

cooking up a storm at the edge of the world

Review: Craft Gin Club

Published on August 15, 2019 • Last updated April 13, 2024 by

It’s toes-in-the-sand time, and Craft Gin Club has curated a gin box for the perfect beach day (or for lounging on the patio in the sun under a cherry tree!). Here’s what we thought…

Craft Gin Club box
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Fun in the sun

I don’t know about you, but I’ve been loving the sunny summery weather we’ve been having lately! Ok, there have been a few spells of remarkably heavy rain, but still, there’s been a fair few beach days this summer.

I’ve recently moved house, and August’s subscription box was my first Craft Gin Club delivery in my new home. I opened my box outdoors on my new patio, with its sea views, sitting in the shade of my overhanging flowering cherry tree. All the happy, I tell you, and gin to boot!

It was perfect timing for the theme of August’s Craft Gin Club box—Fun in the Sun! It’s toes-in-the-sand time, and Craft Gin Club has curated a gin box for the perfect beach day (or for lounging on the patio in the sun under a cherry tree!).

This month’s gin comes all the way from Australia. I do have to confess I was originally rather perplexed by the name: Manly Spirits. What’s so manly about it? It turns out that there’s a rather famous beach (the home of surfing, I’ve since learned!) in Australia called Manly Beach, and this gin is named after that.

Manly Spirits Gin

Manly Spirits – Nature in a Bottle

With the scent and flavours of a sunny Australian beach, this gin, which Craft Gin Club have imported specially for us amazing members, is like a holiday in a bottle!

This gin is made in small batches using sustainably harvested sea lettuce found on Curl Curl Beach, just a stone’s throw from the distillery. This unique seaweed imparts a taste of the sea into the distillate as well as that ever-elusive umami character.

Description – “Fruit and pepper are on the nose, elevated by juniper and delicate citrus. On the palate, this gin is dominated by soft spice and approachable pepper, with a juniper core and a lingering, complex finish.”

Botanicals – Sea Lettuce, Pepper Leaf, Anise Myrtle, Finger Lime, Orange Peel, plus Juniper and traditional gin botanicals.

Craft Gin Club

About Craft Gin Club

Craft Gin Club is the UK’s biggest club for gin lovers. It’s a subscription service where you’re in charge – you can have monthly, bi-monthly or quarterly deliveries, and you’re free to change or cancel your subscription at any time. Delivery is via Royal Mail and it’s free.

Each month, you’ll receive a full-sized bottle of craft gin that isn’t available anywhere else. The gin is always a surprise until it arrives—it’s like opening each box on Christmas morning! 

In addition, you’ll receive a selection of paired mixers, sweet and savoury snacks, and a 56-page GINNED! club magazine packed with recipes, stories, and gin inspiration.

Craft Gin Club - August 2019

So what’s in August’s Craft Gin Club box?

  • 70cl bottle of Manly Spirits Australian Dry Gin – the taste of the sea, distilled
  • 4 x 150 ml Skinny Tonics – two of each flavour: Indian Tonic & Light Citrus
  • 200 ml Pago Pineapple juice – for the perfect tropical gin cocktail (see the video below!)
  • 50 ml Gin-a-colada Mango & Coconut Syrup
  • Salted Caramel Gourmet Popcorn from Popcorn Shed
  • 2 x packets of Emily’s Veg Crisps in Sea Salt and Chilli & Lime
  • 125-gram pack of Bahlsen Luxury Jaffa Cakes 
  • dried lemon slices and pineapple, for a cocktail garnish

I’ve been getting the Craft Gin Club subscription box for over a year now, and I have never failed to be impressed by its contents. This month was not a disappointment either – I loved the ingredients for the Gin-a-colada (although, be warned, it does pack a punch!).

Although I am no stranger to the deliciousness of Popcorn Shed popcorn (Salted Caramel is my favourite!), I was delighted to try the new Emily’s Veg Crisps. Both flavours were fabulous, and I really liked how big and chunky the seasoned sweet potato fries were, perfect for snacking while sipping! Jaffa Cakes, in any form, are going to be a win in my eyes, but these Bahlsen Luxury Jaffa Cakes were just that little bit more fabulous than usual with their dark chocolate topping and rectangular shape.

Exclusive Discount Code

Join the Craft Gin Club using the exclusive discount code ELIZABETH40 to receive 40% off your first box!

Elizabeth’s Kitchen Diary receives monthly Craft Gin Club boxes in exchange for occasional promotion, although all thoughts and opinions expressed are our own. Thank you for supporting the brands who make it possible for me to do what I love: mess up my (gorgeous new) kitchen and share recipe stories! Be DrinkAware. Remember to always drink responsibly.

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About Elizabeth

Solivagant. Foodie. Calls Shetland home.

Reader Interactions

Comments

  2. Emma Davison

    I’d like to try different gins rather than sticking with the sae one. A gin subscription seems like a good way to try new ones.

    Reply

  3. Pat Healy

    Grnandson’s childminder would love this. She has a well deserved Friday gin night. Would love to win this for her.

    Reply

  11. Jenny Barker

    50ml and love love love gin but its just a bit expensive and what I class a little luxury so this would make my summer

    Reply

  19. Caroline Tinsley

    50ml
    I’d love to win this as I make a different cocktail every Friday and this would give me some inspiration!

    Reply

  21. Susan Willshee

    I’d love to win because I bought my daughter a gin box subscription for her birthday and she loved it, so now I’d love to try it too!

    Reply

  22. Philip

    Its a fantastic time for craft alcohol, there are some great breweries and distilleries around. There are so many out there I can see the appeal of a subscription service.

    Reply

  31. Liz Simpson

    I’d love to win this as I enjoyed a lovely walk along the Manly Beach promenade earlier this year. Although it was their winter (end of June) it was a gloriously sunny day and about 20 degrees and this would remind me of that special day at the seaside.

    Reply

  37. Kelly M.

    Gin and tonic, goes perfectly sitting out in the garden, especially if I have spent the day weeding and pruning.

    Reply

  40. Katie Skeoch

    Id love to win as i love hin and the tropical gin cocktail is just what i need to cheer me up with this miserable weather

    Reply

  45. Judith MacInnes

    Love the idea of including a gin from over the pond – I (like lots of people) have relatives in Oz, so I can ask if they’ve tried it too!

    Reply

  48. C Parkin

    I love the selection of mixers and snacks that come with the gin, and Xml of Manly Spirits goes into each Craft Gin Club Gin-a-colada.

    Reply

  65. Rachael Simmons

    I would love to win this for my sister, for a little tipple as she’s a new mama and needs the dutch courage! When she has a night off, of course 🙂

    Reply

  66. Barbara Knight

    The gin-a-colado needs [XXml] of Manly Spirits. The box sounds a great way of trying gins I would never usually come across.

    Reply

  67. Stacey Carnell

    I would love to win as me and my husband are on a mission to try as many different gin’s as possible and keep the bottles as a momentum. This would be a lovely addition!

    Reply

  68. Alison Johnson

    I’d love to win one of these boxes as with my Hubby we’ve been trying new gins out lately & this seems like a really god way to taste more!

    Reply

  72. Elodie

    This is amazing! I’m not one for subscription boxes but for gin? I’d do it! Although i’m currently out of the country so many when I get back! I’d love to try more than your standard gins you find in Waitrose!

    Reply

    • Sophie Roberts

      It needs 50ml of the Manly Spirits for the cocktail and I’d love to win because we’re huge gin fans and we’ve never tried a subscription box!

      Reply

  76. katy peterson

    I’d love to try something new!
    I’m a bit boring and tend to have the same gin and sparkling water with passionfruit syrup.

    Reply

  91. Lorraine Tinsley

    I love gin, went a gin festival recently and discovered some amazing ones so this would beright up my street

    Reply

  92. Kay Broomfield

    I’d love to win as I’m a big gin fan and I think after I’ve tried a box I’ll probably end up subscribing as a little treat to me!

    Reply

  98. Bob Clark

    GIN ON SUBSCRIPTION sounds like a great idea – GIN ON PRESCRIPTION would be a surefire winner especially for the payment exempt people

    Reply

  99. Suzanne McCusker

    I think it looks fab, plenty of items to make different drinks, complete with a choice of garnish, and assorted snacks – what’s not to like?!

    Reply

  101. Lorraine Williams

    would love to win as there is so much variety in the box with new items to try as well as a great gin!

    Reply

  109. Heather Haigh

    I love the idea of a Gin subscription box. We have good friends who are now gin-experts and we need to catch up!

    Reply

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