Don’t let the plastic bottle that often holds this gin fool you, Gordon’s is an inexpensive spirit that stands with the best. Japanese whisky is a hot spirits category at the moment, but Beam Suntory, the main player in that world, also happens to make a very good gin called Roku. This content is created and maintained by a third party, and imported onto this page to help users provide their email addresses. “Citadelle is a pioneer in the aged gin category,” said Smith. Pep it up with citrus – the traditional lemon works beautifully. Beckett’s London Dry Gin Type 1097, Kingston-Upon-Thames, 40% ABV ‘Nice in the old mouth’, apparently. Once known as “mother’s ruin,” gin has been experiencing a renaissance over the past few years, with large and small distilleries alike producing various styles like London dry, barrel-aged, and New Western. 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. Think of old Toms as the hipsters of gins. Why is your answer for Best London Dry Gin different from another website? If you want to get a little adventurous, pick up a bottle of this Ransom Old Tom gin. 10 Gin. Beefeater: Spicy and Fruity Classic. However, there’s also old Tom gin, which came before the London drys that we typically drink today. Gin can be distilled from almost anything, including grain, fruit, potatoes, or grapes. Cucumber, coriander, chilli, a bay leaf, a twist of black pepper – when it comes to the perfect G&T, variety should be your spice. Check Price/Buy Online. Then, the gin from among these barrels is blended to balance the flavor. Monkey 47 fits that role perfectly. The company uses 22 botanicals, including lemon balm, wild thyme, chamomile, red clover and, of course, juniper. “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.”. Booth's London Dry can be found in most markets and is a surprisingly nice gin. Soda water will preserve the flavour, but tonic fires it up. 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). 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. This gin is a rich and cohesive experience on the palate.”. Tastes bright and lively with a touch of warmth, like an assortment of herbs and spices (chilli, coriander, cumin, black pepper and more). “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. Adnams is so much more than just beer, and this limited-edition gin is a winner – fresh, zingy but dry nonetheless, with the only sweetness coming in the form of citrus and tropical fruit flavours (orange, mango, pineapple). Company Lists Vacancy For a "Gintern": A Real Job Getting Paid To Drink Gin, 7 of the Best Gins For Your Drinks Cabinet. It can only be made in Plymouth and, further, has been trademarked to one brand, so you should know exactly what you’re getting. Don’t bother with lemon, which would be too acerbic – go for pink grapefruit instead. It's a very juniper-forward gin, which may taste familiar to you if you've tried other classic London dry gins before. Martin Miller's Gin. It's an incredible yet classic London Dry-style gin. The perfect martini demands a bone dry London gin. If the gin was high proof and leaked into the gunpowder, it would still light—hence, the name. 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". Whilst genever tends to be more floral and fragrant, packing a punch in flavour thanks to the malt-wine at its core (which in turn demands bigger seasoning and more sugar to balance it), gin is dryer, sharper and has a greater focus on juniper. “It’s natural in many traditional gin cocktails.”. Garnish with a fresh orange slice. The … Sometimes local flavors mean ‘this won’t really taste like gin’ but that’s not the case with The Botanist. And you may as well go the whole Pimm’s hog and finish it off with sliced strawberry and mint. It feels much silkier than the others here, with excellently balanced sweetness and hints of liquorice and vanilla. We’re used to Japanese whisky, this Kyoto gin proves the country's adeptness at other spirits, too. Slightly too thin and prickly to a few on our panel but … … It's distilled four times, making it dry and crisp. 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. They deserve top-shelf status for sure for their quality and their impact.”. 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. "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. The term was meant to differentiate from Hollands Gin (known also as Genever) and to indicate that the gin wasn’t sweet, but dry. 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. Read Next: Peaty Scotches for Smoky Scotch Lovers, Barrel-aged gin is a relatively small portion of the gin category, but it’s a very interesting one that can be used in a variety of cocktails or sipped on its own. 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. “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. The Botanist is a Scottish gin made on Islay, the region best known for its smoky, peated scotch. Sipsmith might be a relative newcomer to the gin category, but the London distillery is making some of the best you can find. Get our best cocktail recipes, tips, and more when you sign up for our newsletter. At first taste it’s a classic London … Sharp and powerful, you get a satisfying thwack of juniper flavour and real pepperiness. And give drinks o’clock the boost it needs. You need a gin that's going to give your drink a kick. Van Gogh Gin. His first love remains whiskey, but he is partial to tequila, rum, gin, cognac, and all things distilled. Esquire participates in various affiliate marketing programs, which means we may get paid commissions on editorially chosen products purchased through our links to retailer sites. Each website has its own basis for making reviews. 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. By which we mean that gin is only gin if it has juniper as its predominant flavour and an alcohol content of at least 37.5% ABV. Comes out looking like a blue lagoon and changes to the colour of Parma Violets when mixed with tonic. A much more powerful gin than the rest of the gin from the Elephant Gin, its botanicals focus around juniper, orange peel, mountain pine and African buchu with its blackurrant-like flavour profile. While London dry gin does not have to actually be made in London (or even in England), it does need to meet other requirements that govern the distillation process. 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. The name comes from the tomcat-shaped wooden signs that apparently adorned the outsides of certain pubs in Victorian times, surreptitiously advertising shots of gin when the nation’s thirst for the stuff had panicked the government into hiking taxes on it as a deterrent. “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.”. They account for a lot of the wackier combinations (and colours) out there. Tanqueray London Dry is one of the most awarded gins out there. The boom in gins has inspired an accompanying explosion in gin cocktails, particularly the negroni, although the classic martini is also enjoying a resurgence. “I really enjoy the addition of sansho pepper in this gin, as it gives that slight tingly sensation that makes it distinct and memorable,” said Kurpinsky. It’s not an expensive brand but its consistent popularity and fiercely … It is simply a method of production, not a Geographic Indicator. Our editors independently research, test, and recommend the best products; you can learn more about our Sounds brash but is done with amazing refinement. “Sipsmith didn’t reinvent the wheel, but they managed to thread the needle by taking an innovative small-batch craft approach to making a historically spot-on, top-quality commercial gin,” said Alex Smith, partner at San Francisco’s gin palace Whitechapel. Gin, a descendant of the Dutch spirit genever, has been around for centuries. Can you tell this was sampled later on in the taste test? 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. Read Next: The Best American Whiskey Under $50. It has been produced since the... More Beefeater Gins. It hit its first prime in the 1700s, in what was called the ‘Gin Craze’, though you’d be forgiven for assuming the term relates to the spirit’s more recent renaissance – last year, the UK industry was valued at £3bn. Barr Hill Gin is made by Vermont’s Caledonia Spirits, and this gin incorporates a unique ingredient that makes it sip extraordinarily well on its own: raw honey. Few gins are as classic as Beefeater, a London Dry gin that is actually made in London. Burleigh’s London Dry Gin You can find Burleighs Distillery near the Burleigh Wood in Leicestershire. Lemon or grapefruit will keep it fresh. Or, if all else fails, just pour your gin over some ice and be done. 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). Slightly too thin and prickly to a few on our … It cries out for a craft tonic, and would be excellent in most cocktails. There are so many distilleries making American gin these days, from craft distillers waiting for their whiskey to age to larger operations intent on creating gin using local botanicals. “I have a big soft spot in my heart for Junipero Gin, originally of Anchor Distilling [now Hotaling and Co.] out of Potrero Hill, San Francisco,” said Kurpinsky. The honey provides a subtle sweetness that complements the juniper flavor—the only only botanical used in this gin—and gives this spirit its uniqueness. Leaves you feeling like you’ve just eaten fizzy-sour sweets, and is undeniably one for a party. 10 Best London Dry Gin Brands 2017. Tanqueray should be the classicists pick – it's astringent but well-balanced, with its citrusy notes playing nicely with the juniper's florality . Think beyond a Gordon's and tonic with our favourite drops, from dry London gins to aromatic experiments. 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. If lockdown has taught us anything, it’s that we get bored easily and that we need booze. The 5 Best London Dry Gins 1. But come what may, by the time Dutch King William III was established on the throne, gin was a part of life in this country. These examples are likely to be sharp and clean tasting with more pronounced citrus notes, rather than anything too aromatic. 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. The 7 Best London Dry Gins Beefeater ($18). Tanqueray is another well-known London dry gin. Jonah Flicker is a freelance journalist based in Brooklyn whose work focuses on spirits, food and travel. “They managed to put quite a lot of botanicals together that work in a remarkably harmonious way. Formerly the Oliver Cromwell London Dry Gin, and now Greyson's London Dry Gin, it won a gold medal at the International Wine and Spirits Competition and it’s hard to argue (especially with its price set at a lip-smacking £14.19) with its bone dry and straight-forward flavouring, this gin … “The Botanist incorporates a whole lot of local flavors by using locally foraged botanicals around their distillery,” said Smith. Junipero is sort of the OG gin of the craft distilling movement, first entering the market in the early ‘90s. Sipsmith London Dry Gin with ice, tonic water, plus a slice of lime. Whether you are in the mood for classic cocktails like a martini or gin and tonic or looking to make something more adventurous, here are some of the best gins out there to try now. There are myriad stories surrounding the origins of Navy-Strength gin but the name tells you all you need to know. There’s also a really peppery warmth from both coriander and grains of paradise, so keep it fresh with a good dose of citrus on the side. 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. Beefeater’s nine-botanical recipe includes juniper, Seville orange, orris, and lemon peel, creating an easy-sipping gin that works well in any cocktail. Aria Aria is probably the best domestic gin under $30, and it’s not even $25. 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