Let's address the obvious first: Scapegrace Black is a gin that is literally black. The dark, inky colour comes from natural botanical ingredients — specifically butterfly pea flower, aronia berry, and sweet potato — and when tonic water is added, the pH change turns the drink a vivid purple. It's spectacular. It's theatrical. And if it were only that, I'd dismiss it as a gimmick. But Scapegrace Black is considerably more than its party trick.
Produced in Canterbury, New Zealand, by the Rogue Society distillery, the gin uses a base of locally grown wheat spirit and a botanical bill that includes juniper, lemon peel, tangerine peel, pineapple, saffron, butterfly pea flower, aronia berry, and sweet potato. The colour-changing botanicals are added during distillation rather than post-distillation, which allows the distillery to legitimately call this a gin rather than a flavoured spirit.
On the Nose
The nose is surprisingly delicate given the dramatic appearance. The butterfly pea flower contributes a light, tea-like floral quality, while the aronia berry adds a subtle dark fruit note — think blackcurrant at low volume. The citrus is bright and tropical, with tangerine and pineapple creating a sun-drenched quality that feels distinctly Southern Hemisphere. Juniper is present but polite, providing structure without the assertiveness of a London Dry.
The Palate
On the palate, Scapegrace Black reveals genuine complexity. The entry is soft and slightly sweet, with the tropical citrus notes providing an immediately appealing brightness. The pineapple is particularly effective — it adds a juicy quality that feels fresh rather than flavoured. Juniper emerges on the mid-palate, providing a herbal anchor, while the saffron contributes a warm, slightly metallic spice note that adds depth. The mouthfeel is medium-bodied and smooth at 41.6% ABV.
The Finish
The finish is medium and clean, with the tropical fruit fading first and the juniper and saffron lingering. There's a gentle bitterness from the aronia berry that prevents the finish from being simply sweet, and a final floral note from the butterfly pea that echoes the nose.
The Colour Change
In a gin and tonic, the colour transformation is genuinely beautiful. The black gin hits the tonic and immediately begins to shift through shades of purple and indigo, eventually settling into a deep violet. Add a squeeze of lemon and the colour shifts again. It's impressive, and it's worth noting that the colour is entirely natural and adds no artificial flavour.
But the drink is also genuinely good. The tropical notes play well against the tonic's bitterness, and the result is a G&T that is visually spectacular and flavourfully engaging. It's the best possible outcome — a gin that looks incredible and tastes like someone took the flavour as seriously as the aesthetics.
Scapegrace Black is a gin that could easily have been a novelty. That it isn't — that it delivers genuine quality behind its visual drama — speaks to the care and skill of the team behind it. This is a bottle that earns its place on the shelf for what's inside, not just what it looks like on the outside.
