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English-style Dry Gin

Dry Gin

Jump to: simple dry gin | dry gin with citrus | | dry gin with citrus and some tommy character | bestselling brands | artisanal-bottlings | selected-bottlings | noteworthy drinks

Dry English gins rose to prominence after the year 1860. By 1890, dry gin had surpassed tom gin to become the most common type produced in England. Most English dry gin, and English-style dry gin produced elsewhere, is considered to be of the London dry type, even though there are considerable differences between some of the bottlings. Plymouth dry gin, famously produced by the Black Friars, and then Coates and Company, is now essentially a brand.

In addition to the three ingredients found in every English gin, (juniper, coriander, and angelica), most London dry gins are also made with citrus peel and orris root. These five botanical ingredients form the core five for the type.

The combination of juniper and coriander gives London-style dry gin its classic, piney aroma and flavor. When there is citrus, there will usually be orris root, which helps to keep the citrus notes from vaporizing off.

ENGLISH-STYLE DRY GIN and ENGLISH-STYLE DRY GIN with CITRUS

Dry Gin Geist Bills

ENGLISH-STYLE DRY GIN with CITRUS and some TOMMY CHARACTER

Dry Gin with Citrus and some Tommy Character

DESCRIPTION

TASTING NOTES

In a traditionally-macerated London-style dry gin, the piney aroma will be noticed even before the gin reaches the tongue. Upon reaching the palete, the flavor of pine, from the juniper cones (also called 'berries'), supported in pineyness from the coriander seeds, will form a rich sensation. As the taste deepens, eathy notes from the angelica root and citrus notes from the peel will fill in the flavor.

BESTSELLING BRANDS

Bestselling Dry Gin Bottlings

The three Gordon's bottlings shown above are, from left to right, the U.K. product, the E.U. product, and the North American product distilled in Canada.

The following London-style dry gins are the sales leaders, in order by brand performance (not by specific bottlings):

  1. Gordon's™ London Dry Gin
  2. Bombay™ Sapphire London Dry Gin
  3. Tanqueray™ London Dry Gin
  4. Beefeater™ London Dry Gin
  5. Seagram's™ Extra Dry Gin
  6. Hendrick's™ Gin
  7. Gilbey's™ London Dry Gin
  8. Larios™ London Dry Gin
  9. Barrister™ Dry Gin
  10. Botanist™ Islay Dry Gin

At Elemental Mixology, none of the above is the first choice for a dry gin. Most of them lack the desired richness of flavor. A couple of them have rich flavor, but are so inclusively cut as to allow a bit of harsh tail character. Of these best-sellers, Tanqueray would be selected for use in the classroom at Elemental Mixology.

ELEMENTAL MIXOLOGY SELECTIONS

Elemental Mixology London-style Dry Gin Selections

The following English-style dry gins have been preferred for use at Elemental Mixology – ranked by preference:

  1. Coates™ Plymouth Navy Strength Gin
  2. Broker's™ London Dry Gin
  3. Hayman's™ Royal Dock Navy Strength Dry Gin
  4. Hayman's London Dry Gin
  5. Coates™ Plymouth Gin
  6. Sipsmith™ London Dry Gin
  7. Seagram's™ Distiller's Reserve Gin
  8. Gordon's™ Export Strength Gin (duty-free shops | 94.6° proof | 47.3% A.B.V. | 1 liter)
  9. Heritage™ Elk Rider Gin
  10. Berry Brothers & Rudd™ No. 3 London Dry Gin

NOTEWORTHY DRINKS

In Memoriam:

Beefeater in Memoriam