It’s produced at the same distillery as Tanqueray, but the character of this London dry gin is different, with a bolder juniper flavor on the palate. Often, it's not actually made by the people who turn it into gin, but rather bought in from dedicated stills and then mixed with that brand's specific set of flavourings – juniper berries, of course, plus any other botanicals desired (popular ones are orange, lemon, cinnamon, nutmeg, coriander and angelica root). Martin Miller's Gin. What they call “pearlescent cloudiness” gives it the appearance of mother of pearl. Tanqueray London Dry is one of the most awarded gins out there. “They injected a real spirit of creativity and inspiration into a category that was hanging on by a thread in terms of market sales and general popularity with the average drinker. 13. A martini is a classic cocktail that can be tailor-made to your specific preferences—and every great martini has to start with a good gin. 15 Best Gin Brands 2020 - What Gin Bottles to Buy Right Now Creator Jamie Baxter was wandering through the woods and struck gold in the form of the silver birch … This gin is a rich and cohesive experience on the palate.”. “Distilled in the style of a classic London dry, the juniper is pronounced, and this gin will stand up to any cocktail you mix with it. Beefeater is one of the biggest names in the gin business. , Bombay Sapphire Gin East. There are many well-known brands that make the classic London dry-style of gin, but Beefeater is one of the best and most ubiquitous. An Old Tom gin will be sweeter than a London Dry but not quite as sweet as genever (it’s often called “the missing link” between the two). Leaves you feeling like you’ve just eaten fizzy-sour sweets, and is undeniably one for a party. review process here. It's distilled four times, making it dry and crisp. In short, these gins need to be made from pure grain spirit, with no flavor or artificial additives added after distillation. Both complement the natural Japanese botanicals nicely.”, Navy strength means gin that is higher proof (at least 114 proof), a throwback to the days when the British navy sailed the seas with gin stored onboard near the gunpowder. At first taste it’s a classic London … Jonah Flicker is an experienced writer who has been covering spirits and traveling the world visiting distilleries to taste and discover for many years. It is simply a method of production, not a Geographic Indicator. There are just enough floral notes in this gin to make it shine when combined with tonic water and a slice of lemon or lime. Garnish with a sliver of pink grapefruit peel. And give drinks o’clock the boost it needs. “Try it in a gin and tonic, or a 50/50 martini with blanc vermouth. Tanqueray No. It's also robust enough to stand up to slug of brine, so perfect for those who like their martinis a little dirtier. Beefeater’s nine-botanical recipe includes juniper, Seville orange, orris, and lemon peel, creating an easy-sipping gin that works well in any cocktail. The gin is distilled with three unique botanicals—yuzu, genepi, and bleuet—among 19 others, and ages in five different types of wood barrels for five months. Soda water will preserve the flavour, but tonic fires it up. Why is your answer for Best London Dry Gin different from another website? “The long list of botanicals used in making this German gin is extensive, but really well balanced,” said Stephen Kurpinsky, a well-known San Diego bartender and former President of the San Diego chapter of the United States Bartenders Guild. “But then they decided to tantalize us with a more concentrated version that they rest in sherry barrels for a touch of authentic British Royal Navy flavor.”. This may be a pink gin but the hue is so pale you’ll barely notice, especially if you’re mixing it. Come aperitivo hour, you could reach for your tried and tested bottle of Gordon’s, because that’s just what’s there, or you could buy yourself something a little bit new. The creamy mouthfeel and slightly sweet, slightly floral flavor make this a great sipping gin, whether you like it neat or with a large ice cube to dilute it a bit. This distillery is in an old boathouse on Lough Erne, Northern Ireland, and if you really love your juniper then it’s the gin for you: it goes through two different processes to impart the berry’s flavour. Tanqueray: Best London Dry Gin This best-selling brand is known for being playful and always goes down a favourite behind the bar. 8 Popular Brands of Gin You Need to Taste Beefeater London Dry Gin. These examples are likely to be sharp and clean tasting with more pronounced citrus notes, rather than anything too aromatic. Then there's sloe gin, which technically isn't a gin at all – it's a liqueur, not a spirit. His work has appeared in many different national outlets covering trends, new releases, and the stories and innovators behind the spirits. But what defines this ever-popular spirit is the predominant use of juniper, which must be included in the mix of botanicals that flavor this important cocktail component. Beefeater isn’t the fanciest gin (despite the fancy regalia of its mascot). Tanqueray London Dry Gin The shape of this world-renowned bottle is inspired by a cocktail shaker, making Tanqueray an immediate hit with the home bartenders amongst us. Fords introduced its Officers' Reserve Gin in 2019. “It is an excellently executed London dry gin made with mostly traditional old-school botanicals that is wonderful in its original all-purpose expression,” said Smith. “Their approach was a complex solera system of barrels blended together, and it reveals a remarkable visionary and complex thinking when it comes to pushing the envelope of what gin should be.”. Distilled gins are similar to London Drys, but their flavours can be added after re-distillation and can be natural or artificial. They account for a lot of the wackier combinations (and colours) out there. Along with the upfront juniper notes, you’ll find hints of almond, lemon peel, and licorice, making this a fantastic choice for the simple but refreshing gin and tonic. Gin, a descendant of the Dutch spirit genever, has been around for centuries. Junipero is sort of the OG gin of the craft distilling movement, first entering the market in the early ‘90s. It's bracing, too: at 47.3% ABV, a Tanqueray martini embodies James Thurber's maxim that "one martini is alright, two is too many, three is not enough". Slingsby London dry gin, 42%, 70cl Always innovative, we’ve featured various Slingsby flavours in the past, but we had to include its original London Dry here. Unlike drinks which are classified according to their distilling technique or the ingredients used to create the spirit, gin is a matter of taste. It also cannot have any artificial flavours in it, and the flavours it does have must have been imparted during the redistilling process – no adding in afterwards. While its city of origin is a moot point, Beefeater remains a go-to for a number of cocktails because it's … It isn’t the most expensive... Tanqueray London Dry ($22). Another example of a widely available London Dry-style gin is Bombay Sapphire, instantly recognizable in its light blue bottle. “They began aging gin commercially before anyone else, to my knowledge.” This process imbues the gin with notes of vanilla, oak, and spice that whiskey drinkers will find familiar. This Scottish distillery helped to modernize and innovate the gin category with a floral recipe that includes prominent notes of cucumber and rose in the mix of botanicals used. Beckett’s London Dry Gin Type 1097, Kingston-Upon-Thames, 40% ABV ‘Nice in the old mouth’, apparently. Made by mixing gin and sloe berries, it's rich and sweet, and comes in at a lower alcohol level (at least 25% ABV in the EU). Juniper berries have been used to make spirits practically back to year dot, but the gin of today is thought to be a derivative of the Dutch genever, commonly said to have been invented by chemist Sylvius de Bouve in the seventeenth century. It has the gin characteristics often found in this price range, with full juniper in the front followed by coriander, lemon peel, and a number of other spices. Tastes bright and lively with a touch of warmth, like an assortment of herbs and spices (chilli, coriander, cumin, black pepper and more). Lemon or grapefruit will keep it fresh. Burleigh’s London Dry Gin You can find Burleighs Distillery near the Burleigh Wood in Leicestershire. It's an incredible yet classic London Dry-style gin. A classic London Dry Gin, perfect with tonic water or as the base for a cocktail. “Hendrick’s really revived the gin category by thinking outside the box,” said Smith. Plymouth Gin is even more straightforward. Made by English winemakers known for their Provence rosés, it’s starting spirit is purely grape-based and there’s a dash of rosé in there too, which lends it a wine-like quality with delicate red-fruit and rosy flavours. Said mixing is generally done through a process of redistilling, but a more basic method is simply to steep the spirit with the other ingredients – this will make a ‘compound’ or ‘bathtub’ gin because, well, you could technically throw everything into a bathtub and hope for the best. Read Next: The Best American Whiskey Under $50. Tastes like strawberry jam but with an edge. 10 Best London Dry Gin Brands 2017. Sounds brash but is done with amazing refinement. It has been produced since the... More Beefeater Gins. One of the reasons gin remains so popular is that it can carry big flavours, so make the most of it. The Negroni is another classic gin cocktail and one that deserves a flavorful and fragrant gin that can stand up to the bitterness of the Campari and sweetness of the vermouth. Taste winners The Taste categories are based upon the commonly held gin groupings which define the style and process of gin … That’s perhaps unfair to those who make very good compound gins, but it’s far more common, these days, to see gins made via re-distillation. Van Gogh Gin. Truly sophisticated, it could easily be drunk neat, but if you prefer some dilution then choose a lighter tonic and garnish with a sprig of lavender or rosemary. We’re used to Japanese whisky, this Kyoto gin proves the country's adeptness at other spirits, too. You can also check pricing, customer reviews and buy Sipsmith Gin … You need a gin that's going to give your drink a kick. Garnish with a fresh orange slice. "Roku" in Japanese means six, and the name of this gin references the six Japanese botanicals used in the distilling process, like Sakura flower and yuzu peel. You’ll have heard of the brand, but this new version is unashamedly fruity – a celebration of summer, pure and simple. Don’t bother with lemon, which would be too acerbic – go for pink grapefruit instead. Read Next: The Best Cocktail Shakers, According to Experts. The perfect martini demands a bone dry London gin. The term was meant to differentiate from Hollands Gin (known also as Genever) and to indicate that the gin wasn’t sweet, but dry. M&S - Dry Gin No.01 Spice This top-notch dry gin has been specially made for M&S by Thames Distiller in London, led by master distiller Charles Maxwell. “Citadelle is a pioneer in the aged gin category,” said Smith. Hortus London Dry Gin - Best supermarket gin A delicate texture with cooling flavours of lemon, orange and a light rosemary and thyme spice. The … The boom in gins has inspired an accompanying explosion in gin cocktails, particularly the negroni, although the classic martini is also enjoying a resurgence. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. However, there’s also old Tom gin, which came before the London drys that we typically drink today. Both are best with dryer gins, because broad and flowery flavours tend to get lost. The Best Cocktail Shakers, According to Experts. If you enjoy the … Made by another respected winemaker, this time in West Sussex. Then, the gin from among these barrels is blended to balance the flavor. It can only be made in Plymouth and, further, has been trademarked to one brand, so you should know exactly what you’re getting. A little bit different. The World Gin Awards select the very best gins in the internationally recognised gin styles and promote the world’s best gins to consumers and trade across the globe. Best Navy Strength: Fords Officers' Reserve, 5 Essential Gin Bottles You Need for Your Home Bar, 6 Great American Gin Distilleries You Should Know, 5 Savory and Briny Spirits to Add to Your Home Bar, The 12 Best Flavored Vodkas to Drink in 2020, 6 Spirits Made with Ingredients You'd Never Guess, The Best Cheap Alcohol of 2020, According to Bartenders, The 11 Best Cocktail Books of 2020, According to Experts. It does absolutely not have to come from London, or from England at all come to that, but it does have to be dry in the traditional sense of the word – by not containing much sugar. Aldi Topaz Blue London Dry Gin £14 for a 700ml bottle Aldi claims that its own-brand gin gets its unique taste from fruits that are 'distilled in limited batches for an earthy, spicy, fruit driven, full bodied taste'. Tanqueray should be the classicists pick – it's astringent but well-balanced, with its citrusy notes playing nicely with the juniper's florality . “They managed to put quite a lot of botanicals together that work in a remarkably harmonious way. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our Tanqueray: Smooth and Accessible. This is a simple, economical gin with no frills or flourishes in flavor that's a great option when you're looking for something to use in any gin cocktail. Gin can be distilled from almost anything, including grain, fruit, potatoes, or grapes. Think beyond a Gordon's and tonic with our favourite drops, from dry London gins to aromatic experiments. It's a very juniper-forward gin, which may taste familiar to you if you've tried other classic London dry gins before. There's perhaps nothing new or exciting about Beefeater, but the inescapable... 2. 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