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London Dry Gin

Ok, so we had some comments recently from people regarding London dry gin and it seems many still think the style must be made in the capital. This isn’t true, so let’s break down exactly what it is.

It’s hard to think of a city people associate with gin more than London. From the ‘Gin Craze’ era in the first half of the 18th century when England’s capital became a den of juniper-based mayhem to the craft revolution that arguably began when Sipsmiths became the first copper-pot based distillery to start up there in 189 years, London and gin are as intertwined as, well, gin and tonic.

Anyone who has even a cursory knowledge of gin will also have surely heard of the classification: London dry gin.

It’s a fantastic category of spirit, but its name is not exactly useful. It doesn’t tell you anything about what style these gins are, and misleadingly implies they must be made in London. Rule no.1 of London dry gin is this: it does not need to be made in London.

I repeat: you can make London dry gin in Newcastle, New Delhi or Norway. It’s not where you make it that’s important, it’s how.

The term London Dry Gin is the narrowest and most strict of the distilled gin categories, and is a process designation. That means it doesn’t technically guarantee a flavour because that’s a subjective and pretty unenforceable standard, although the wider categorisation of gin requiring a predominantly juniper-forward flavour and the way in which flavour can be achieved when making London dry gin does mean you typically expect a certain style. Once again, it’s also NOT a geographical designation.

Instead, a series of EU regulations put in place in February 2008 dictates that a London dry gin must be produced exclusively by distilling ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin with no trace of methanol. It also must also be distilled to an initial alcoholic strength of at least 96% ABV. This is only really possible in a column still, and achieving that strength means the basis for London dry gin is a neutral spirit.

The law then states the spirit must be distilled again to at least 70% ABV “in the presence of juniperus communis L. and other botanicals.” Any additional flavours must be sourced through the distillation of ‘natural plant materials’.

Following distillation, producers will then dilute the gin before bottling. London dry gin regulations state that the minimum strength it can be watered down to is 37.5% ABV and no artificial ingredients (flavouring or colourings) can be added. To meet the ‘dry’ designation, it cannot be sweetened in excess of 0.1 grams per litre with sweetening products, a trivial amount.

So why is it called London dry gin in the first place? Well, we have to do a bit of time travelling here.

For much of its early history, gin was generally made so crudely that botanicals with sweetening properties, and usually the addition of sugar or honey post-distillation, were necessary to make it palatable.

However, when the Coffey still was introduced in 1832, distillers were able to obtain a consistent neutral spirit that could be made into an unsweetened gin of quality. This new style quickly gained popularity and was dubbed ‘dry gin’. As most producers were based in London, before long the term ‘London dry gin’ began to be used,

The term ‘London dry’ is ultimately a slightly complex but useful distinction. In the variable, experimental world of gin, having a regulated category does not prohibit innovation, but instead acts as a context that consumers can rely upon to guarantee that they are receiving a spirit with the profile and character they enjoy.

What it ensures, above all, is that the gin’s flavour must be entirely created in the distillation process. When done correctly, it’s often regarded as the pinnacle of gin distillation. Ultimately whether you like the gin the method produces or not is down to personal taste. But just remember:

London dry gin doesn’t have to be made in London.

Special Offer

Master of Malt London Dry Gin

70cl, 42%
Masters of Malt

We went ahead and sourced a selection of fab spirits for our very own range, perfect for anyone looking to sip on something superb. For example, have a gander at Master of Malt London Dry Gin! This…  More info

Master of Malt London Dry Gin
$25.66
$20.53
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Chocolate Orange Gin (That Boutique-y Gin Company)

70cl, 46%
That Boutique-y Gin Company

The richness of chocolate makes a great partner to the vibrant zestiness of orange, and the herbaceous deliciousness of gin blends brilliantly with the both of them to create... That Boutique-y Gin…  More info

Chocolate Orange Gin (That Boutique-y Gin Company)
1
$35.96
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Tanqueray No. Ten 1l

100cl, 47.3%
Tanqueray

It’s a one litre bottling of Tanqueray No. 10! The expression was launched in 2000 and is made with whole fresh citrus fruits. Presented in a classic green bottle that looks like it stepped straight…  More info

Tanqueray No. Ten 1l
1
$49.33

Gordon's Gin 1.5l

150cl, 37.5%
Gordon's

A gin that needs no introduction. Gordon's is a very popular dry gin first created in 1769 by Alexander Gordon. The recipe is only known by four people, and has been a secret for 200 years.  More info

Gordon's Gin 1.5l
$37.02

Beefeater Crown Jewel Gin 1l

100cl, 50%
Beefeater

Beefeater Crown Jewel has returned! The original Crown Jewel was launched in the early '90s, featuring the same botanicals as Beefeater though with the addition of grapefruit, and bottled at a higher…  More info

Beefeater Crown Jewel Gin 1l
2
$57.35

Elephant Dry Gin

50cl, 45%
Elephant Gin

Elephant Dry Gin is distilled in Germany using 14 botanicals that include some rather unusual but fascinating African ingredients like Baobab, the Buchu plant, Devil's Claw and African Wormwood. With…  More info

Elephant Dry Gin
26
$30.76

Burleighs London Dry Gin Distiller's Cut

70cl, 47%
Burleighs

Burleighs London Dry Gin Distiller's Cut is made with a recipe which offers up a fabulous flavour profile, that works excellently in cocktails. Try it in a Negroni or a Martinez, or find your own…  More info

Burleighs London Dry Gin Distiller's Cut
2
$33.83

City of London Square Mile Gin

70cl, 47.3%
City of London Distillery

A big, bold one-shot London dry gin from the City of London Distillery, made with a selection of botanicals which include juniper, angelica, coriander, fresh orange & lemon, liquorice and orris root,…  More info

City of London Square Mile Gin
$43.15
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Beefeater London Dry Gin 1.5l

150cl, 40%
Beefeater

A magnum bottle of Beefeater. This is a classic London Dry Gin created by James Burroughs in 1820. It is still made to the same recipe. Very flavoursome and spicy.  More info

Beefeater London Dry Gin 1.5l
$41.14

Sixtowns London Dry Gin

70cl, 40%
Sixtowns

Sixtowns London Dry Gin comes to us from Stoke-on-Trent, a town known for its pottery – and now two brothers, Vitalijs and Alex, are ready to make it known for gin, too. This expression is made using…  More info

Sixtowns London Dry Gin
4
$41.09

Oxley Gin

70cl, 47%
Oxley

As enthusiasts of all things science-y, we're big fans of Oxley Gin. It's distilled under vacuum - the distillate boils at -5 degrees Celsius, and re-condenses at -100 Celsius! That sounds like it…  More info

Oxley Gin
7
$40.11

Sipsmith V.J.O.P.

70cl, 57.7%
Sipsmith

All hail the juniper berry! If, like us, you think the juniper berry is a proper champion of the botanical world, then you'll love Sipsmith's V.J.O.P., which is jam packed with the fresh, peppery…  More info

Sipsmith V.J.O.P.
6
$40.59
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Marylebone London Dry Gin

70cl, 50.2%
The Pleasure Gardens

Marylebone London Dry Gin is made in London by the Pleasure Gardens Distilling Co., using a combination of botanicals including juniper, lime flower, lemon balm, clove, liquorice, chamomile and…  More info

Marylebone London Dry Gin
10
$38.01
Best Seller

Greater Than Gin

70cl, 40%
Greater Than

Greater Than London Dry gin is made in Goa, India by the folks over at Nao Spirits, who aptly chose the '>' symbol to whack on the front of the bottle. It takes coriander seeds, fennel, chamomile,…  More info

Greater Than Gin
4
$26.70
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York Gin

70cl, 42.5%
York Gin

London dry gin all the way from York, created with a love of gin and history in mind. York Gin features a selection of nine botanicals, all of which would have been available in the 18th century via…  More info

York Gin
12
$36.46

East London Liquor Co. Gin

70cl, 40%
East London Liquor Company

The fantastic East London Liquor Co.'s very own London dry gin is gloriously creamy and wonderfully flavoursome, plus it works excellently in all sorts of cocktails and mixed drinks. We're rather…  More info

East London Liquor Co. Gin
5
$23.91

Salcombe Gin Start Point

70cl, 44%
Salcombe

Salcombe Gin is produced in a 450 litre Arnold Holstein still charmingly named Provident, and made with thirteen botanicals including Macedonian juniper, fresh lemon, lime and red grapefruit peels,…  More info

Salcombe Gin Start Point
20
$46.29
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Tanqueray No. Ten

70cl, 47.3%
Tanqueray

Introduced in 2000, Tanqueray No. Ten is named after the still of its origin, pot still number 10, which is quite endearingly nicknamed Tiny Ten. The small batch gin is crafted using whole fresh…  More info

Tanqueray No. Ten
14
$34.92
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Tanqueray No. Ten Gin Gift Set with Candle

70cl, 47.3%
Tanqueray

This Tanqueray gin and candle gift set includes a bottle of Tanqueray No. Ten along with a bespoke candle made in collaboration with quirky candlemakers, cent.ldn, who aren't afraid to capture the…  More info

Tanqueray No. Ten Gin Gift Set with Candle
$61.72

Gordon's Yellow Label - Traveller's Edition

100cl, 37.5%
Gordon's

A Traveller's Edition bottling of Gordon's Yellow Label Gin, with a rather handsomely designed label. The Yellow Label expression is more commonly found in Mainland Europe.  More info

Gordon's Yellow Label - Traveller's Edition
6
$38.01
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Price Drop

Fords London Dry Gin

70cl, 45%
Thames Distillers

Fords London Dry Gin comes to us from the Thames Distillers in London with help from Simon Ford of The 86 Co., the chaps behind Aylesbury Duck Vodka. For the botanical selection, the distillers cast…  More info

Fords London Dry Gin
8
$32.92
$31.88

Fishers Gin

70cl, 44%
Fishers Gin

A 70cl bottling of Fishers Gin, which is heavily inspired by the glory of coastal flavours. For example, alongside classic gin botanicals like juniper, cardamom and citrus, you'll find spignel, rock…  More info

Fishers Gin
4
$41.14
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Bombay Original London Dry Gin

70cl, 37.5%
Bombay Sapphire

A back bar classic, Bombay Original London Dry Gin was first produced in 1959, preceding Bombay Sapphire by around 25 years. It is made with a different recipe to Bombay Sapphire, using 8 botanicals…  More info

Bombay Original London Dry Gin
1
$30.84

Swedish Rose Gin - Hernö (That Boutique-y Gin Company)

50cl, 46.2%
Hernö

The best London Dry Gin in the world? That's what the IWSC thought, awarding it The London Dry Gin Trophy for 2017! An independent bottling of fantastic Hernö from That Boutique-y Gin Company! The…  More info

Swedish Rose Gin - Hernö (That Boutique-y Gin Company)
4
$39.04
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Special Offer

No.3 Gin

70cl, 46%
Berry Bros. & Rudd

No 3 London dry gin is a beautiful looking gin from Berry Bros. Made to a special recipe, the name No.3 refers to the address of BBR - Number 3, St James's Street. With juniper at its heart, it's…  More info

No.3 Gin
23
$35.95
$30.80
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