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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.

What is London Dry Gin?

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.

How is London Dry Gin distilled?

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.

Where does London Dry Gin get its name?

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.

Hooting Owl Signature Gin

70cl, 42%
Hooting Owl

It's the awesome Signature London Dry gin from Hooting Owl over in Yorkshire! The tipple is packed full of botanicals, with bitter orange peel, mukrat lime leaves, dandelion and burdock root, and…  More info

Hooting Owl Signature Gin
1
£38

Portobello Road No. 171 Gin - Special Reserve 101

70cl, 50.5%
Portobello Star

Celebrating the 10th anniversary of Portobello Road, Special Reserve 101 is a limited edition release from the London-based distillery. This London dry gin is made with a base of potato spirit which…  More info

Portobello Road No. 171 Gin - Special Reserve 101
£47.95

Black Powder Sidelock London Dry Gin

70cl, 40%
Black Powder Gin

From the Black Powder Gin folks in Lancashire comes Sidelock London Dry Gin, which features a bustling selection of 28 botanicals. This includes the likes of chamomile, grains of paradise, hibiscus,…  More info

Black Powder Sidelock London Dry Gin
£35.95

Downton Distillery Explorer's Gin

70cl, 44%
Downtown Distillery

Downton Distillery can be found on the Wiltshire Downs overlooking Downton and the River Avon. For Explorer's Gin, botanicals are both macerated and vapour infused. Among pink pepper, bay leaf and…  More info

Downton Distillery Explorer's Gin
29
£45

Ealing Gin

70cl, 42%
Ealing Distillery

Hailing from West London, it's Ealing Gin! This London Dry gin marries pink peppercorn, chamomile, garden mint, rose and rosemary among other traditional botanicals, with the latter four inspired by…  More info

Ealing Gin
10
£44.45

Dragon Hill London Dry Gin

70cl, 40%
Dragon Hill

Created by the West Berkshire Brewery, Dragon Hill London Dry Gin pay homage to the nearby countryside, along with a gone-but-not-forgotten pub by the name of The Dragon. A terrific name for a pub,…  More info

Dragon Hill London Dry Gin
£39.95

Moonshot Gin (That Boutique-y Gin Company)

70cl, 46%
That Boutique-y Gin Company

That Boutique-y Gin Company didn't just reach for the sky, but the stars with Moonshot Gin! Literally – it's made entirely with botanicals that have been sent to space. Cubeb, fresh lemon peel,…  More info

Moonshot Gin (That Boutique-y Gin Company)
2
£34.95
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Broker's Gin (47%)

70cl, 47%
Broker's

The higher strength edition of Broker's Gin weighs in at 47% ABV, and with it comes a creamy mouth feel and a boost in botanical character. It still maintains the powerful dryness, slightly herbal,…  More info

Broker's Gin (47%)
8
£23.75

Mojito Gin - Conker Spirit (That Boutique-y Gin Company)

50cl, 46%
Conker Spirit

The Mojito cocktail is a staple of summer drinking, but you know what the Mojito doesn't involve? Gin. This is a shame. Gin is nice. However, those clever Conker Spirit folks down in Dorset along…  More info

Mojito Gin - Conker Spirit (That Boutique-y Gin Company)
5
£34.95

Yorkshire Dales Desert Ram Army Strength Gin

70cl, 50%
Yorkshire Dales Distillery

Quadruple distilled Desert Ram Army Strength Gin is hand crafted in small batches at Yorkshire Dales Distillery with 100% vapour infused North African and Middle Eastern botanicals. Bottled at a…  More info

Yorkshire Dales Desert Ram Army Strength Gin
£34.95

Thunderflower Gin

70cl, 42%
Thunderflower Distillery

A London dry gin all the way from Devon, made with a combination of 11 botanicals extracted by vapour infusion. The recipe includes juniper, sage, green cardamom, black cardamom, angelica,…  More info

Thunderflower Gin
11
£40

Origin - Arezzo, Italy

70cl, 46%
Origin

Origin is the name of a superb range of gins which are cold-distilled from nothing but juniper sourced from a single estate. The series showcases the effects of terroir and offers the modern gin…  More info

Origin - Arezzo, Italy
4
£35.95

Malvern Dry Gin

50cl, 43%
Malvern

A splendid London dry gin, produced in rural Worcestershire using Holywell Malvern spring water and a host of botanicals inspired by the surrounding Malvern Hills. Distilled with the likes of…  More info

Malvern Dry Gin
£32
Price Drop

Opihr Far East Edition Szechuan Pepper Gin

70cl, 43%
Opihr Gin

This spicy expression comes from Opihr Gin's Regional Edition series, which pairs its original recipe with flavours inspired by the spice trade routes of yesteryear. Opihr Gin Far East Edition…  More info

Opihr Far East Edition Szechuan Pepper Gin
3
£29.94
£26.99

Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin Gift Pack with Glass

70cl, 40%
Opihr Gin

A very cool gift set, containing a bottle of the wonderful Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin, accompanied by a very large balloon glass. The perfect gift to literally spice up your life. The only thing…  More info

Opihr Oriental Spiced Gin Gift Pack with Glass
£42.50

Sapling Climate Positive Gin

70cl, 40%
Sapling Spirits

The Sapling Spirits team has created the cracking Climate Positive Gin! This London dry gin is made with organic regenerative wheat from their pals at Wildfarmed, who use farming methods that allow…  More info

Sapling Climate Positive Gin
£33.74

Copperfield London Dry Gin Volume 3

70cl, 42%
The Surrey Copper Distillery

It's the third volume of Copperfield London Dry Gin, created with another recipe inspired by historical recipes from library archives. This particular expression features the likes of juniper, sage,…  More info

Copperfield London Dry Gin Volume 3
3
£42

Edinburgh Gin 1670

70cl, 43%
Edinburgh Gin

A collaborative effort between the Edinburgh Gin folks and Royal Botanic Garden Edinburgh. Named after the 1670 Physic Garden, this expression features botanicals that would have been found in the…  More info

Edinburgh Gin 1670
2
£31.90

Cubical Ultra Premium London Dry Gin

70cl, 45%
Williams & Humbert

Botanic Ultra Premium London Dry Gin is produced by winemakers William & Humbert, to a higher strength than their standard Premium London Dry Gin. It's made with some rather intriguing botanicals,…  More info

Cubical Ultra Premium London Dry Gin
2
£56.45
Price Drop

Darnley's Navy Strength Spiced Gin

70cl, 57.1%
Darnley's

A particularly spicy and intense London dry gin from Darnley's (which has recently had a bit of a rebrand). This will most definitely stand out in your G&T, but we reckon it'll do well in a Clover…  More info

Darnley's Navy Strength Spiced Gin
3
£37.24
£33

GWYR Rhamanta Gin

70cl, 43%
The Gower Gin Company

The fine folks at The Gower Gin Company were feeling romantic when they came up with this one! Rhamanta Gin includes an array of botanicals such as angelica, pink grapefruit zest, foraged wild fennel…  More info

GWYR Rhamanta Gin
£37.95

Hrafn Valkyrie London Dry Gin

70cl, 43%
Hrafn

A light London gin from two Scottish brothers, Hrafn Valykyrie is a modern take on a classic London dry gin. It incorporates the exotic Jara citrus fruit as its key botanical, which is responsible…  More info

Hrafn Valkyrie London Dry Gin
£36.95

D1 London Gin

70cl, 40%
D. J. Limbrey

D1 London Gin wonderfully marries classic aspects of the juniper-based spirit with contemporary characteristics. D. J. Limbrey Distilling Co. use a narrow cut of triple-distilled grain spirit and a…  More info

D1 London Gin
£29.50

Cubical Premium London Dry Gin

70cl, 40%
Williams & Humbert

This is the 40% bottling of the London Dry Gin from Williams & Humbert, who are perhaps more well-known for their Spanish brandies. This refreshing tipple features botanicals such as juniper,…  More info

Cubical Premium London Dry Gin
1
£37.44
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Mews London Dry Gin

70cl, 38%
Mews

Mews is a vapour distilled gin made with 11 botanicals: juniper, coriander, liquorice root, angelica, pink peppercorn, lavender, lemon, orange, orris root, cubeb berries and cassia. Its subtle…  More info

Mews London Dry Gin
£32.30

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