It’s coming. No not winter, that’s here already (at least in Scotland). Not Christmas either, something much more ominous. Something dark. Something that many people will not return from unscarred.

Black Friday is coming.

“May the odds be ever in your favour.”
Yes, it’s that mad, mad time of year, brought to the world by the good ol’ US of A! Every year, on the last Thursday of November, people across the United States join together and give thanks for all of the good in their lives, including each other. But on Friday morning all that is out the window as what can only be described as the commercialised Hunger Games commence!

People camp, people fight, people wake up in hospital; all to get the very best deep discounts and giveaways. And when the insanity settles, the victors stand atop a Cornucopia of presents, and just like that, ready for the season for giving and peace on earth to arrive.

Don’t believe us? Or just want to sit back with a gin and watch some highlights? Check out some Black Friday best (or worst) bits here: Black Friday “Highlights”

How to survive Black Friday
Thankfully, the UK has not been hit with full-on Black Friday fever. There are discounts and offers to be had here and there, but camping is rare and hospitalisation unheard of. One thing is for sure though; from Black Friday onwards, shopping will only be for the brave.

Shopping centres (or malls ‘across the pond’) will be rammed full and we will be left with two choices. Stay home, shop online, and enjoy a relaxing gin; or brave the crowds, grab a bargain or two, and then propbably grab a gin or two when you get home to take the edge off. Either way, all roads seem to lead to gin, so let’s not fight it.

The art of taking your time
Luckily for gin fans, at McQueen we always choose the slower, more relaxing path. While other gin distilleries were sprouting up faster than TVs will disappear from Walmart tomorrow, we waited.

As a career engineer Dale has always been focussed on planning, process, and precision. And as a professional chef, for Vicky, taking the time to experiment and find the perfect balance of flavours was always priority number one.

It took years to develop the first four McQueen Gin’s. Our Sweet Citrus, Mocha, Smokey Chilli and Chocolate Mint, were all true world firsts, with nothing like them anywhere else.

So, if you are more inclined to sit in this Friday and let the madness pass you by, we can’t think of a better way to do it than with a McQueen Gin in hand. True craft spirit that’s been taking life nice and slow since before it even existed.

Sláinte