The Curious Drinker Reviews 

4,928
TrustScore 4 out of 5

3.9

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Review summary

Created with AI, based on recent reviews

Considering 1,484 reviews, reviewers had a great experience with this company. Customers consistently praise the excellent quality and varied selection of products, often highlighting the bespoke gins and enjoyable treats included in their boxes. Many people also commend the staff and customer service for being exceptionally helpful, responsive, and professional, making interactions pleasant and efficient. However, some customers also noted significant frustration with the cancellation process, finding it difficult to cancel online and often needing to call customer service. A few other people also felt that they were unexpectedly signed up for subscriptions after receiving a taster box, or that some boxes contained damaged items or a limited selection of actual gin/rum.

What people talk about most

Product

Reviewers highlight positive aspects of product, with many finding the boxes excellent, well put together,... See more

Subscription

Reviewers mention ambiguous feedback about subscription, with many expressing frustration over difficulties... See more

Staff

People report positive experiences with staff, highlighting their helpfulness, efficiency, and professional... See more

Customer service

Clients share positive opinions on customer service, with many reviewers praising the helpfulness and... See more

Cancellation

Consumers find cancellation to be ambiguous, with many reporting significant frustration and difficulty,... See more

Reviews shaping this summary

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Customer service staff couldn't be more helpful. my delivery was late and damaged, missing product on arrival and they arranged for replacements without any hassle. Just a shame they use Evri for cou... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

The boxes have been great and the service from Desmond Jones was very helpful, pleasant on the phone and understood what I was looking to do which I appreciate. The website is very misleading in r... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Replying to Craft Gin Club now owned by The Curious Drinker! Unbeknown to me!! Desmond Jones, based in Durban South Africa! was helpful but could jot deal directly with my issue of a returned i... See more

Rated 4 out of 5 stars

My online shopping resulted in a gift of rum samples which were sent out immediately. Packed really well, they were a lovely treat. Customer service at Craft Gin Club is very responsive. Today I spoke... See more


Company details

  1. Liquor Store

Written by the company

The Curious Drinker is the UK’s leading discovery club for drinks enthusiasts who love exploring something new. Every month, members receive a surprise box showcasing exceptional spirits and drinks from independent and high-quality producers, paired with mixers, cocktail ingredients and curated treats, plus our club magazine. We inspire curiosity through flavour, craftsmanship and memorable drinks experiences.


Contact info

3.9

Great

TrustScore 4 out of 5

5K reviews

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1-star

No recent history of asking for reviews

This company hasn't invited customers recently, so reviews may not be representative

Replied to 97% of negative reviews

Typically replies within 1 week

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3.9

All reviews

(4,928)

1,473 reviews in the last 12 months

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Rated 3 out of 5 stars

I didn’t realise it was a monthly…

I didn’t realise it was a monthly subscription when I bought the starter pack. It wasn’t very clear. However the staff over the phone her name started with A, maybe Anna, was very helpful.

July 2, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Great experience

I have looked forward to my monthly boxes for the past year! I love the variety of gins and overall have a fantastic experience with the curious drinker! Unfortunately I had to cancel due to an overseas move but Anna was super friendly and made the cancellation process quick and easy!

July 2, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Feedback

Keenan in customer service was very polite and understood my request and was able to resolve my issue immediately.

July 2, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 4 out of 5 stars

Lovely boxes

Lovely quality suprise boxes, and they gave me a discount when I explained that I couldn't afford the montly gin selection. Unfortunately I've now had to cancel altogether. Nice customer service when I phoned- friendly and proffesional attitude from Keenan. One star lost due to having to phone to cancel.

July 2, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

AVOID OR BE RIPPED OFF

Took up the try us offer, before the first package had been delivered money had been taken for a further box.

AVOID OR BE RIPPED OFF

July 1, 2026
Unprompted review
The Curious Drinker logo

Reply from The Curious Drinker

Hi Clive, Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We're sorry to hear you're disappointed.

Our introductory taster box is the first box in an ongoing subscription, rather than a one-off purchase. The purpose of the free taster is to introduce you to The Curious Drinker and help you decide whether the membership is right for you.

Our monthly billing schedule is outlined when you join. Members are charged on the 23rd of each month for the following month's box, so it's possible for the next payment to be taken before the introductory box has been delivered, depending on when you signed up.

We certainly don't set out to catch anyone out, and we're sorry if the timing came as a surprise. If a member decides the subscription isn't for them, our team is always happy to help with the cancellation process, answer any questions, and, if a box has already been processed, talk them through our simple returns process.

We appreciate you giving The Curious Drinker a try and thank you for sharing your feedback.

Kind Regards,

James
Memberships Executive

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Very easy process for ordering and…

Very easy process for ordering and quick delivery. The cancellation process was also quick and easy but would prefer to be able to click a cancel button on the app. Desmond Jones was very helpful with the cancellation process and there was no pressure, very friendly and efficient.

July 1, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Irritating company, expensive

Awful company. One of those ones that won't let you cancel unless you call them. They have a cancellation section on their website but it doesn't work and they aren't fixing it.
The box is expensive for what it is. Padded out with lots of non alcoholic bits, so you only really get a small bit of gin.

June 30, 2026
Unprompted review
The Curious Drinker logo

Reply from The Curious Drinker

Hi Robert, We're sorry to hear you feel this way, but we'd like to clarify a couple of points.

Cancelling your membership is straightforward, all you need to do is give us a call. Our average call time is around two minutes, and our team is always happy to help with any questions at the same time. We appreciate that some people would prefer to cancel online, but we don't make the process difficult or deliberately delay cancellations.

As for the contents of the box, our concept has always been about delivering a complete tasting experience. The featured spirit is the hero of every box, with the perfect serve, Cocktail of the Month, and carefully paired snacks included to enhance the overall experience. Everything is intentionally curated to complement the spirit – nothing is included simply to pad out the box.

We're proud of what we create each month, and while we understand it won't be for everyone, we're glad you gave it a try!

Kind Regards,

James
Memberships Executive

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Keenan listened well and explained what…

I wouldn't recommend this company at all as I don't feel they have their customers best interest at heart. and they appeared very impatient. This is why I gave a low rating.

On the other hand, Keenan who answered the customer service phone, was very polite, listened well and explained what he was and wasn't able to do regarding my decision to cancel with this company. I would give him 5 stars.

June 30, 2026
Unprompted review
The Curious Drinker logo

Reply from The Curious Drinker

Hi Terry, Thank you for taking the time to leave your feedback.

We're really pleased to hear that Keenan provided you with polite, attentive service and clearly explained what he could and couldn't do. We'll be sure to pass your kind words on to him, he'll really appreciate the recognition.

We're sorry to hear that your overall impression of the company was disappointing. We genuinely do have our customers' best interests at heart, even if we're not always able to provide the outcome every customer is hoping for. We appreciate your feedback, as it helps us reflect on how we communicate and the experience we provide.

We wish you all the best, and thank you again for highlighting Keenan's excellent customer service.

Kind Regards,

James
Memberships Executive

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

Recommend in terms of products and custome service

Good choice of products and a great introductory box; nothing hidden on the site - membership commitment made absolutely clear.
Really good flexibility on memebership, re pause/taking a break and cancellation.
Customer service great - thank you Anna - and only reason for cancellation is because this was purchased as a gift but commitment not wanted.
No pressure or heavy sales pitch to stay a customer, so honoured their promise

June 30, 2026
Unprompted review
Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Difficult Cancellation Process & Unresponsive Phone Line

My experience trying to cancel my subscription with this company was highly frustrating. I placed an order and explicitly requested a cancellation via email within hours of the payment being processed. Despite my immediate notice, customer service informed me it was "too late" to cancel.

They stated I would have to receive the box and ship it back at my own expense, even though the item was not scheduled to leave their warehouse for another 7 to 10 days. In my view, refusing a cancellation notice sent hours after ordering—weeks before dispatch—fails to respect standard UK statutory consumer rights regarding online distance selling.

I also found that online cancellation options and "skip boxes" were not available in my account dashboard (I later found these hidden within several menus). Instead, I was directed to phone a helpline that proved difficult to reach. In my view, this process also did not respect standard UK consumer rights regarding straightforward cancellations.

For anyone facing similar difficulties, here is the factual process I followed to manage my account and payments:

Email notification: I sent a formal written cancellation notice directly to their customer service email address to establish a clear paper trail.

Bank intervention: I contacted my bank to explicitly cancel the Continuous Payment Authority (CPA) associated with this company to prevent further automated charges.

Chargeback dispute: Because funds were debited after my request, I submitted my cancellation email to my bank to initiate a formal Chargeback dispute.

Reporting: I have logged the details of this cancellation experience with Trading Standards via Citizens Advice, as I believe the company's cancellation policy fails to adhere to statutory consumer rights.

I recommend keeping strict records of all communication dates when trying to end a subscription here to ensure your consumer rights are protected.

June 23, 2026
Unprompted review
The Curious Drinker logo

Reply from The Curious Drinker

Hi There, Thank you for taking the time to share your experience. We're sorry to hear you were disappointed.

We'd like to clarify a few points; The Curious Drinker is a subscription service, and our monthly billing schedule means that once payment has been collected, orders move into our fulfilment process. Although boxes may not physically leave our warehouse the same day, stock is allocated and orders are prepared, which is why we're unable to cancel or refund an order once payment has been taken.

That said, members are never stuck with a box. If you no longer want it, we offer a straightforward returns process, and once the box has been returned, our team can arrange your refund promptly.

We also appreciate your comments about the cancellation process. We ask members to cancel by phone because we value the opportunity to answer any final questions, resolve any outstanding concerns where possible, and gather feedback that helps us improve. Average call times including wait time are around two minutes, on busier days, they can indeed exceed. We understand this won't be everyone's preferred method, and we'll continue to review our processes based on member feedback.

We're sorry that you found it difficult to reach us, we aim to respond to all emails within 2 working days, usually much faster so there is always a way to get in touch and a paper trail. If you'd still like to discuss your account with us, our team would be happy to help.

Kind Regards,

Sophie
Memberships Executive

Rated 1 out of 5 stars

Signed up for discounted one box trail

*update - I have sent 3 separate emails asking for support and help - no replies as of yet after a week. If they spent more time dealing with and improving their customers service - as opposed to masking their poor service - they might offer a better product to customers.*

Signed up for discounted one box trail
For the total amount paid, I feel you get very little. Essentially 2 small 50ml gin bottles.

I cancelled this immediately online
Proceeded to charge me at 40£ 1 months later

Tried to ask them to refund and cancel it but they said that's not possible because money has gone out

They then don't sent out the box for 2-3 weeks,

Very poor customer service, very poor operational model, very poor products

DO NOT BOTHER WITH THIS COMPANY

June 23, 2026
Unprompted review
The Curious Drinker logo

Reply from The Curious Drinker

Hi Max, Thanks for taking the time to leave a review. We're sorry to hear you're disappointed with your experience.

We'd like to clarify a few points, the introductory taster box isn't a one-off purchase, it's the first box of a membership and is provided free to introduce members to The Curious Drinker and give them a chance to decide whether it's right for them before future monthly boxes.

We can only take payment for an active membership, so it appears your membership wasn't cancelled before the next billing date. We do ask members to call us to cancel, as it gives our team the opportunity to answer any questions, gather feedback and ensure everything is handled correctly.

Our monthly billing and delivery schedule is clearly set out when joining. Members are charged on the 23rd of each month for the following month's box, which is then delivered between the 1st and 7th of the next month. Once payment has been processed, your order enters fulfilment, which is why we're unable to stop it at that stage.

That said, you're never stuck with a box. If you no longer want it, our team will be happy to talk you through our simple returns process so that a refund can be arranged once it's returned.

We also reached out after your review to investigate your experience further, but unfortunately we haven't yet received the information we need to locate your account. If you'd still like us to look into this, please do get in touch, we'd be happy to help.

Kind Regards,

James
Memberships Executive

Rated 5 out of 5 stars

I would highly recommend

I have been buying my gin/rum boxes for over 5 years from what was the Craft Gin Club, now The Curious drinker. I love the fact that you get bespoke gins that can't be bought anywhere else & the surprises in your monthly box. A monthy treat, what mote can you ask for. In the main there have been many issues, maybe a few mix ups or similar which are always dealt with efficiently & in a friendly manor. I have put my account on hold at present which was suppotted by one of the gang at TCD. No issues if you want to skip a month or two. I would highly recommend this company who offer something different & surprising. Enjoy your treats😀❤️

June 27, 2026
Unprompted review

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