First Impressions
Scapegrace is distilled just outside Christchurch in a 19th-century John Dore whisky still, using water from New Zealand's Southern Alps. Twelve botanicals create a firmly classic London Dry profile. The name means rascal or rogue, and the distillery won Best London Dry Gin at the 2018 International Spirits Awards.
Tasting
The nose is clean and clear — soft juniper greets immediately with subtle nutmeg and lemon zest lending roundness. On the palate, a soft initial entry radiates warmth towards the finish. Orange, lemon and mild pepperiness give way to juniper with pine and green facets holding court mid-palate, with complex earthy warmth from the spice combination. The finish is bracing and astringent, drying into peppery warmth with mellow almond softening the close.
The Bottom Line
Scapegrace earns an 8 for proving that world-class London Dry gin can come from the Southern Hemisphere. The John Dore still and Southern Alps water give it a clean precision, and the twelve botanicals achieve balance without complexity for its own sake. At around £36, a serious contender that should be on more back bars than it currently is.
