FIRST JOURNEYS - 80 GINS AROUND THE WORLD - PIN 24 OF 80

AROUND THE WORLD, ONE BOTTLE AT A TIME,

PHILEAS FOGG WOULD SURELY APPROVE



Although this is a Belgian gin, I couldn't resist taking a little detour on my journey because the botanicals transport us thousands of miles away to the world of cacao. Using Colombian cocoa beans alongside vanilla, X-Gin is a fascinating expression that brings together European gin-making with one of the world's oldest and most treasured ingredients.


Chocolate in gin is always an interesting one. I'm never quite sure whether it works perfectly in a G&T and, as much as I love chocolate, eating it alongside my drink is not really my thing either—I would much rather have something savoury! So instead, I decided this one deserved a cocktail and created my own version of an Espresso Martini, which I am more than happy to enjoy with a little chocolate on the side.


The name X-Gin comes from xocoatl, the ancient cacao drink enjoyed by the Aztecs and Maya. Dating back thousands of years, cacao was far more than just a treat—it was an important part of Mesoamerican culture, used in ceremonies, medicine and even as a form of currency.


The original cacao drink was very different from the sweet chocolate we know today. The Aztecs did not cultivate sugar cane, so xocoatl was a bitter drink, often flavoured with spices and sometimes chilli. The word itself is often translated as “bitter water”, reflecting the earthy intensity of cacao before European influence transformed it into the sweeter chocolate we recognise today.


Cacao was considered sacred, believed to have been gifted by the gods, and was closely linked with abundance, fertility and prosperity. When the Spanish arrived in the Americas, they encountered this mysterious drink and adapted it for European tastes by adding sugar, cinnamon and vanilla.



Belgium may seem a long way from the ancient cacao cultures of Mesoamerica, but the connection feels very natural.


Belgium has built a worldwide reputation for chocolate craftsmanship, from delicate pralines to artisan chocolatiers, making cocoa a fitting companion to a Belgian gin.


The Colombian cocoa beans used in X-Gin bring another layer to this story. Colombia is known for producing exceptional fine-flavour cacao, with varieties prized for their complexity and aroma.There are also many legends surrounding cacao and its connection with love, abundance and pleasure.


One such story tells of Ixcacao, a Mayan-inspired goddess associated with chocolate, fertility and nourishment. Like many legends passed down through generations, the story blends mythology, symbolism and imagination—but it reflects the powerful role cacao has played in the cultures of Mesoamerica.


So perhaps it is fitting that cacao has found its way into a gin. Both chocolate and gin have travelled the world, been transformed by different cultures and developed their own rituals.



For my serve, I created an

X-Presso Martini:

25ml X-Gin
25ml fresh espresso coffee
10ml Irish cream liqueur
10ml cream
10ml Frangelico


A little Belgian gin, a little Colombian cacao, and a journey all the way back to the ancient world of chocolate.



“Where Belgian gin meets the ancient world of cacao”



Atlas note:  Although this is a Belgian gin, its story takes us far beyond Europe. Distilled in Belgium but inspired by the ancient world of cacao, X-Gin brings together Colombian cocoa beans with botanicals sourced from around the globe. I therefore included it in my 80Days Journey as a nod to the origins of one of the botanicals.


"Show me a bottle

and I'll tell you a story."