Beefeater London Dry Gin
A True ‘Spirit of London’ Gin
40% abv ~ England
The Story
First produced in 1876 by James Burroughs, Beefeater London Dry Gin is a British stalwart of the gin category. The distillery itself started out in Cale Street, Chelsea by the Taylor family in 1820. Bought out by James in 1863 for £400, a heck of a lot of money in those days, he soon set about producing a range of popular spirits. By 1908 the distillery had expanded into new premises on Hutton Road, Lambeth.
In 1958 Beefeater was on the move again into an old pickle factory in Kennington. And in 2005 the brand was bought out by Pernod Ricard. A revitalisation of the brand began.
Still produced today to the original recipe by Master Distiller Desmond Payne MBE, who personally oversees the buying of botanicals, Beefeater has the usual culprits: juniper, coriander, angelica, orris root and citrus present in its botanical makeup.
The Bottle
A classic squared-off shape with the tactile raised letters “Made in London’ split down the sides. This bottle is nice to hold and pour. The back label is a colourful illustration of the River Thames from Tower Bridge to Westminster Bridge, depicting the heart of the capital city.
The Nose
Light, fruity, juniper fragrance. There is a classic gin slight sour note.
The Taste
Beefeater is a juniper-forward gin light on the coriander. It has a full-bodied fruity mouthfeel with a nice long citrus finish. There is a faint sourness after adding a drop of water.
I’m surprised how much I like it. I think I was expecting something more mass produced with hard-edged almost chemical flavours. This gin has been around forever and I tended to associate it with the sort of gin your grandparents might have had in their sideboard. But Beefeater couldn’t be further from my pre-conceived prejudice. I urge any gin lover to try it.
The Serve
Beefeater is perfect as a cocktail gin. It is robust enough to hold its own in a Gimlet. In a Breakfast Martini, its fruitness has a chance to shine.
Of course, it is just as good in a G&T. Perhaps not with a delicate tonic like elderflower but a good companion for Fever-Tree’s aromatic tonic.
This could easily be my go-to gin for cocktails this summer. I’m looking forward to experimenting!
For further information on this stalwart of London visit their website.
