The Brussels sprout is one of the most insidious Christmas ingredients. Even though it has been dividing families for as long as it’s been appearing on the dinner table, it remains an inexplicably indispensable part of the holiday season. Like a bitter, bright green cockroach, it just won’t die. But, having successfully made the solid part of Christmas dinner a battleground, Brussels sprouts have now also managed to sneak into the drinks cabinet.
To help fans celebrate the sprout in all its forms, Scottish distillery Pickering’s Gin has decided to launch a spirit with the unusual distinction of tasting like the world’s most contentious vegetable. Brussels Sprout Gin, released as part of a festive collection of flavours, is believed to be the first of its kind on earth. Distilled from over 100kg of sprouts, it even comes in its own bauble. Bleugh humbug.
The flavour is actually only available as part of a £25 pack of festive gins, which also includes unusual combinations like Christmas Clementine, Festive Cranberry, Spiced Pear and Cinnamon, Figgy Pudding and Plum and Ginger. The baubles range in colour from lurid green to nuclear purple, and certainly work just as well as a statement decoration as a way to grease the wheels of awkward family bonding.
In a lengthy statement released to the media, the company’s co-founder and Head of Export, Marcus Pickering, said:
“We launched the first-ever Christmas Gin bauble back in 2016 and it became an instant hit with gin lovers around the country – making it a must-have gift.
However, this year we really wanted to spice things up and to take the original and best gin bauble to the next level. We are thrilled to finally be able to share our unique festive flavoured gin baubles.
It was an interesting challenge trying to balance the unmistakable flavour of brussels sprouts to get the taste just right – and the distillery had a very distinct aroma while the gin was being distilled!
However, we love the end result and it is the ideal tipple for friends and family to share together this Christmas.
A limited number of packs are available to buy direct from our website and traditionally our festive baubles have been hugely popular and sold very quickly.
We expect gin fans will be out in force to snap up this year’s baubles to ensure they can taste the world’s first Brussels sprout flavoured gin.”
If you like Brussels sprouts, here is an easy Brussels sprout recipe you will love:Even if the idea of drinking a sprout makes you want to vomit, customers can reassure themselves that there’s more to the collection than weird flavours.
Proceeds from the bauble box will go directly to Contact the Elderly’s community Christmas campaign, which helps to tackle loneliness. The drink itself may divide opinion, but the cause surely won’t.
This article originally appeared on TwistedFood.co.uk