Crossip is a dedicated non-alcoholic spirit brand. They’ve been going since 2020, and have a few different offerings, such as a citrus spirit, a pineapple and a berry. However, I chose the Crossip Dandy Smoke for a try-out tipple as, to me, it sounded that most intriguing.
It also presents a unique challenge, trying to capture that smokiness and warmth of spirits when you don’t have the alcohol in there to play with. Let’s see how they got on.
Appearance
Crossip Dandy Smoke pours a reasonably rich amber colour. It is very pleasing on the eye, and not to shabby when compared to similar alcoholic spirits, like a whiskey or dark mezcal. Hold it up to the light and you’ll spot a hint of caramel at the edge of the liquid.
Give the glass a swirl and you do see a slight viscosity, with the drink clinging momentarily to the sides. I’d normally look for slightly longer legs in this type of spirit, but it’s still a promising sight.
Aroma
The aroma of Dandy Smoke is where you start to get a suggestion of some of the base ingredients that Crossip use across their range, namely eucalyptus, ginger and cayenne. However, to do so, you first go through the smokiness. It’s certainly the primary thing on the nose on first whiff. Hold your course, however, and the ginger starts to come through as well, I thought, as a touch of clove. As the smell develops, then the cayenne and eucalyptus start to make themselves known. Keep sniffing and you’ll probably detect a bit of caramel and dried fruit in there too.
Some might find the initial smokiness a bit overpowering, but once that hurdle is navigated (and you do want some smokiness after all), there is a pleasing depth to the aroma.
Taste
Again, as with the sniff, first on the tastebuds is smokiness. However, it;’s not quite as all-encompassing as I found it on the nose. There’s a bit more of the peatiness one gets with whiskey alongside the smoke – from the malt extract that they use, no doubt. The warmth then comes through with the notes of clove, cayenne and ginger, as well as a bit of sweetness at the en d, from the dried fruit tones, which further serves to balance that initial hit of smoke.
Mouthfeel
I like the mouthfeel of Crossip Dandy Smoke. It’s full-bodied and smooth on the palate. It has that pleasing touch of viscosity one expects from a spirit.
Finish
The finish of Dandy Smoke is decently long. And the taste benefits from this longer finish, giving more time for the flavours to show themselves. You’re left mainly with heat from the cayenne and clove, and I quite like that spiciness. You also experience hints of the malt and the dried fruit, which makes for a more nuanced finish. While it doesn’t have the long-lasting experience of aged traditional spirits, Crossip Dany Smoke gives a very satisfying finish to each sip.
Pairing Suggestions
If you want to take the edge off Crossip Dandy Smoke it would pour well into a glass of ginger ale (I’d add a lime wedge as well, personally). Keep the lime, and squeeze it a little as well, if you’re keen to try the spirit with cola. And it wouldn’t be that out of place as the substitute for bourbon in an Old Fashioned.
When it comes to food to go alongside, I’m thinking something like a spice or ginger cake would go well. Or just a square of really good quality dark chocolate.
Overall Impressions of Crossip Dandy Smoke
Crossip Dandy Smoke delivers a reasonably complex experience that stands up pretty well to its alcoholic counterparts. While the smokiness is a bit full-on at first on the nose and palate, there is enough complexity beneath it, that manages to make itself known over time, that you can forgive that initial hit of smoke. I think it would be a decent sipper of a winter evening by the fire, or alongside a slice of hefty cake on Boxing Day.