In 2021, Elephant Gin launched a new and fresh gin Creation - the Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin. Based on their award-winning Elephant London Dry Gin, this gin perfectly blends fresh orange flavor with notes of roasted cocoa beans. The result has a beautifully bright and zesty aroma with intensive cocoa flavor.
I had the chance to try Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin shortly before its launch, and I absolutely love it. The gin is fresh and full of fruity flavors. At the same time, you can taste this strong cocoa taste.
It is pleasant when drank neat and works sensationally in a Gin and Tonic with the right choice of tonic water. My preferred way, though, is drinking it in a cocktail. The flavors have to be well-balanced, yet if they are, the results are delicious.
Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin Review Summary
- Produced By: Elephant Gin
- Owned By: Tessa Gerlach and Robin Gerlach
- Website: Product Website
- Production Location: Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, Germany
- Classification: Contemporary/New Western Dry Gin
- Known botanicals: Juniper, Devil's claw, buchu plant, baobab, lion's tail, African wormwood, apple, pine needles, lavender, sweet orange peel, ginger, pimento berries, elderflower, orange, cocoa bean
- Base Spirit: Neutral grain spirit
- Aging: No Age Statement (NAS)
- Proof: 45% ABV
- Price: $40 / 500 ml
- Overall Rating: 3.5/5
Tasting Notes
Nose (Aroma)
The nose is mild but slightly sweet and fruity, while fresh and strong orange notes dominate with a faint chocolaty aroma.
A vibrant mix of Orange peel, candied orange, and orange juice. And there are also hints of vanilla and tangerine. Overall, I would say the gin has a pleasant and surprising smell with beautifully sweet citrusy notes.
Taste (palate)
Drank neat, Elephant Orange & Cocoa offers a light and soft mouthfeel. It immediately reminds me of summer and blood oranges.
It is a bit zestier than in the nose. However, notes of vanilla, almonds, and subtle chocolaty flavors balance it well. The taste is slightly on the sweet side, but not too much.
Those velvety chocolate flavors are a perfect match to balance the fresh flavors of sweet organic oranges.
Overall
Nice aromatic complexity and delicate citrus orange flavors make this gin an excellent bottle to experiment with.
The combination of flavors somewhat resembled the taste of Jaffa orange cake. An unexpected comparison, perhaps, but it's the first thing that came to mind - and I like them. Plus, it's proof that the flavor combination works.
On ice
When served on ice, the flavors of orange and cocoa are better balanced. The gin is less orange-forward with more detectable cacao and chocolate flavors.
Even the rare African botanicals in the gin are much more prominent, shifting the overall flavor profile of the gin significantly. Taste the spirit neat first, then chill on a large ice cube to taste the difference.
Cocktails
Gin and Tonic
I wasn't sure if the gin would work well when paired with bittersweet tonic water. However, I was pleasantly surprised with the bold cocoa flavors and hints of orange. That combination made this a very enjoyable Gin and Tonic.
I tried it with a few different tonic water, and I recommend pairing the gin with a Mediterranean tonic.
Negroni
The Negroni made with Elephant Orange Cocoa Gin was my least favorite drink I tasted. I'm not saying you can not make a good Negroni with this bottle, but using standard ingredients and measurement ended in a weird flavor combination.
The orange flavors blended nicely, but the cocoa notes were too prominent and didn't blend in with sweet vermouth and Campari.
Gin Fizz
The last cocktail recipe we tried was a Gin Fizz. This drink had a unique, refreshing taste but didn't blow me away. Before trying, I thought this would be a hit or miss, but somehow I couldn't really decide whether I liked it.
It wasn't bad, the flavors were unusual, and still, it didn't fully convince me and my tasting buddies.
Bottle Design
The 2021 Elephant Gin Orange Cocoa edition comes in the classic, distinctive bottle, but the cap is slightly different and more colorful.
Like for every Elephant Gin, the label is handwritten. Moreover, with every bottle of the Orange Cocoa edition, you will also get a handcrafted, authentic Maasai bead. Those are authentic, handmade beads made by three women from a Kenyan Maasai tribe.
Also, like the standard Elephant London Dry Gin, you will find the name of an Elephant. Either it's one that's in a conservation program, or it is to honor one that already has died.
Brand
Elephant Gin is a unique gin brand inspired by Africa, created by a group of passionate German gin enthusiasts. This artisanal gin is crafted from 14 carefully selected botanicals sourced from around the world, including rare African ingredients like African Baobab and Devil’s Claw.
Their smooth London Dry Gin is produced in small batches using traditional copper stills, blended with local spring water, and flavored with fresh apples, and other exotic elements.
What sets Elephant Gin apart is its commitment to wildlife conservation, with 15% of all profits dedicated to saving endangered African elephants.
The brand, launched in 2013, combines South African flavors with German craftsmanship, resulting in a classic gin that offers a unique taste, but also supports noble causes in wildlife preservation.
How the Gin is Made
As mentioned, Elephant Orange and Cocoa Gin is based on their classic London Dry Gin. This gin is handcrafted with 14 thoughtfully selected botanicals, including Buchu and Apple. The orange cocoa edition adds cocoa beans and fresh orange flavor to the mix.
The herbal notes of the London Dry Gin are complemented by fresh organic oranges from Spain, adding complexity with highly aromatic and crisp notes.
During the production process, whole oranges are vacuum distilled, which creates an intensely aromatic spirit. The roasted Cocoa beans add a surprisingly intensive and pronounced chocolate flavor.
Pros & Cons
Pros
- Unique botanical selection
- Great in Gin and tonic
Cons
- A bit pricey
- Doesn't work in every gin cocktail
Conclusion
I love the London Dry Gin from Elephant, and I totally enjoy this new version. Not despite, but because they both taste very differently. It's excellent in a Gin and Tonic and a nice option to serve neat or on the rocks. Overall, the orange and cocoa edition received a solid 3.5 out of 5 starts in our review.
On a personal note: By buying a bottle of this excellent spirit, you get a brilliant gin, plus you contribute to their elephant conservation project as 15% of the bottle profits go directly into this charity project.