Dr Squid Gin is back, but why is it so popular?

It’s back. Is it a Kraken? Is it a mermaid? A, wait, that’s just another Kraken, isn’t it? No, it’s Dr Squid Gin!

Yes, the best thing inspired by brainy molluscs since Octodad: Dadliest Catch, this curious creation was unavailable for a period after it sold out. Popular demand, you see. Very popular demand. A whopping 500% surge over the past three years, according to its creator.

That would be Pocketful of Stones, an independent distillery tucked away in the salty wilds of Penzance. It originally launched the gin during lockdown and is also the producer of Hell’s Stone Whisky, an English malt that begins life as a top-notch craft beer.  

How is Dr Squid Gin made?

Back to the main event, Dr Squid made waves with its 100% natural ingredients, including the headline act: real squid ink, sustainably sourced from local fisheries. 

Add to that a supporting cast of sea buckthorn, eucalyptus, angelica root, blue pea flower and hibiscus, and you’ve got a gin that strays boldly from the citrus-and-juniper template.

The popularity of spirits made with unusual, locally rooted ingredients is growing – and fast. Drinkers are craving flavours with a sense of place. And a little something else. Dr Squid nails that brief. 

Why is Dr Squid Gin so popular?

This savoury, seafaring gin is eye-catching, theatrical, but most importantly, it actually tastes nice. 

It’s not just a gimmick – it’s a genuinely good gin with a bit of visual flair to boot. The flavours dart between citrus brightness, salinity and a touch of spice. 

It pours pitch black, but don’t let that fool you – add tonic, and thanks to a pH-reactive flourish from the botanicals, it blushes a brilliant pink. 

And let’s talk packaging: each bottle is a copper flask, engraved with scenes from Cornwall’s rugged coastline and its folklore-laced history. It’s a proper talking point – part hip flask, part museum piece. People point at it when it’s behind a bar. They want to know what it is. That makes a difference.

How to drink it

Here’s some quick serving suggestions for the cephalopod curious:

– G&T? Obviously.

– Gin Mule – mix with ginger beer and crushed ice for a coastal spin.

– Dark Negroni – 25ml Dr Squid Gin, 25ml Campari, 25ml red vermouth over ice – mysterious, moody, marvellous.

The Last Drop: Dr Squid Gin

Squid ink, pink pours and pH-powered drama – a gin this weird, this wonderful, and this inky black was never going to stay off the radar for long.

You can buy Dr Squid Gin from Master of Malt.

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