Scapegrace Black Gin 750ML

Scapegrace Black Gin 750ML is a 41.6% ABV New Zealand gin widely recognized as the world's first naturally black gin. Awarded gold medals at both the London and San Francisco Spirits Competitions and earning 88 points from Wine Enthusiast, this dramatic expression achieves its striking near-black hue entirely through natural botanical infusion — no artificial coloring involved.

Quick Facts: ABV: 41.6%  |  Origin: New Zealand  |  Style: Contemporary Botanical Gin  |  Distillery: Scapegrace Distillery

Production & Heritage

Scapegrace Distillery produces its gin range using 19th-century copper pot stills originally designed for whisky production, lending a fuller-bodied distillate than column-distilled alternatives. Black Gin draws its extraordinary color from a proprietary process in which 12 botanicals — including aronia berry, butterfly pea flower, saffron, pineapple, and sweet potato — are blended at precise intervals and temperatures. The butterfly pea flower is steeped for hours to release its natural blue-purple dye, which combines with the other botanical extracts to produce a liquid so deeply pigmented it appears black in the bottle. When mixed with citrus or tonic, the pH shift triggers a vivid color change from black to deep purple or pink.

Tasting Notes

Aroma: Resinous juniper leads, followed by dry earthy notes and a subtle drift of tropical sweetness. There is a faint berry-forward undercurrent beneath the more traditional gin aromatics.

Taste: The entry is full-bodied and floral, with butterfly pea flower and saffron creating a layered mid-palate. A menthol-like crispness emerges alongside balanced citrus and a touch of warm spice. The texture is notably richer than many contemporary gins, with a slight licorice quality threading through the progression.

Finish: Medium-length and velvety, with candied sweet potato and pineapple lingering on the palate. A lightly astringent lemon peel note closes things out cleanly, preventing the sweetness from becoming cloying.

How to Drink Scapegrace Black

Neat or over a single large ice cube is the most direct way to appreciate the full botanical complexity and color. Adding tonic triggers the color-changing reaction — a visual spectacle that also opens up the citrus and floral notes. Three cocktails that suit this gin particularly well:

• Gin & Tonic: The color shift from black to vivid purple makes this the definitive serve; a quality Indian tonic and a grapefruit twist let the botanicals shine.
• Bramble: The existing berry character from aronia berry amplifies the blackberry liqueur component, creating a more integrated version of the classic.
• Aviation: Scapegrace Black's floral backbone and natural purple hue replace the need for excessive crème de violette, producing a visually stunning and balanced cocktail.

Best For

• Hosting cocktail parties where visual presentation matters as much as flavor
• Gifting a gin enthusiast who has explored most mainstream London Dry expressions
• Building a curated home bar shelf with distinctive, conversation-starting bottles
• Experimenting with color-changing cocktail photography or mixology content

Frequently Asked Questions

What does Scapegrace Black taste like? Scapegrace Black is juniper-forward with a full-bodied floral character, balanced citrus, menthol-like crispness, and hints of licorice and warm spice. The finish brings candied sweet potato and pineapple with a velvety texture.

How does Scapegrace Black compare to Empress 1908 Gin? Both gins use butterfly pea flower for natural color-changing properties, but Scapegrace Black is significantly darker in the bottle — appearing nearly black rather than Empress 1908's indigo-violet — due to the addition of aronia berry and a more complex 12-botanical recipe. Scapegrace Black also runs slightly higher in ABV at 41.6% compared to Empress 1908's 42.5%, and tends toward a more juniper-forward, earthier profile.

Is Scapegrace Black good for cocktails? It is excellent in cocktails, particularly those where visual drama enhances the drinking experience. The color-changing reaction with citrus juice or tonic makes it one of the most versatile gins for creative mixology.

Where is Scapegrace Black made? Scapegrace Black is produced at the Scapegrace Distillery in New Zealand. The gin is distilled in 19th-century copper pot stills that were originally built for whisky production.

What foods pair well with Scapegrace Black? Dark berries such as blackberries and blueberries echo the aronia berry botanical. Seared scallops complement the sweet potato and pineapple notes. Aged goat cheese matches the earthy, herbal backbone. Lemon tart highlights the citrus components while softening the juniper. Sashimi-grade tuna works well alongside the gin's clean menthol character.

What sizes does Scapegrace Black come in? The standard retail format is the 750ml bottle, which is the most widely available size in international markets.

Is Scapegrace Black worth the price? Scapegrace Black positions as a premium contemporary gin, sitting above entry-level options but below ultra-premium aged or limited-release expressions. Its gold-medal pedigree, unique natural coloring process, and 12-botanical recipe deliver genuine differentiation that justifies the step up from standard-shelf gins.

Why Scapegrace Black?

As the world's first naturally black gin, Scapegrace Black occupies a category essentially of its own making. The color is not a gimmick layered onto a generic base spirit — it is the direct result of a carefully engineered botanical infusion process using aronia berry, butterfly pea flower, and saffron at controlled temperatures and intervals. Gold medals at both the London and San Francisco Spirits Competitions confirm that the liquid inside the bottle stands on its own merit, independent of the visual theatrics. For drinkers who want a gin that delivers genuine complexity and a one-of-a-kind sensory experience, Scapegrace Black remains the benchmark color-changing expression in the category.