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The noble juniper drink, a descendant of the sweet and rustic jenever, is on the market in many varieties, types and variations. We will consider the most popular brands of gin, which are respected among connoisseurs all over the world (including Russia). But this rating does not exhaust the list of worthy brands, there is always a chance to stumble upon a “not promoted”, but a good manufacturer.
Attention! The list includes only brands of “London dry gin” – the most popular type.
Gordon’s (Gordons)
British gin produced since 1769. Today, the brand firmly holds the position of the best-selling “London dry” in the world, and for more than a hundred years it has been the favorite gin of the British themselves.
The first producer and godfather of the drink was the Scot Alexander Gordon. The invented recipe turned out to be so successful that it has not changed until now (and, of course, is kept in the strictest confidence – only 12 people know the exact composition and proportions).
It is only known that the recipe includes juniper, coriander, angelica, licorice, violet root, orange and lemon peel. The distillation lasts ten days, in addition, no sugar is added to the drink – Gordon’s gin is so good that it has no taste flaws that would need to be masked.
Beefeater (Бифитер)
Another old English stamp, the first Beefeater was issued in London in 1862 by James Barrow. The company belonged to the descendants of the first manufacturer until 1994, when the company was bought by the alcohol corporation Pernod Ricard.
On the brand’s website, the composition of the gin is directly indicated: juniper, angelica root, coriander, licorice, almonds, violet root, orange (bitter orange) and lemon flakes, but this does not mean that the company did not keep a couple of ingredients a secret, besides proportions are unknown.
All herbs and additives are soaked for XNUMX hours before distillation, which allows you to achieve the deepest and richest taste. Ready alcohol is taken to Scotland, where it is diluted and bottled.
Another feature of the brand is that this gin has a different strength depending on the market: the 47% version is supplied in the USA, while the rest of the world is content with only 40%.
Bombay Sapphire (Bombay Sapphire)
Despite the name, which clearly refers to the times of the East India Company, this is a rather young brand that appeared just over 30 years ago, in 1987, and today belongs to the Bacardi concern.
The drink recipe includes 10 ingredients (not counting 100% grain alcohol): almonds, lemon zest, licorice, juniper berries, violet root, angelica, coriander, cassia, cubeba and meleget pepper (grains of paradise).
Gin Bombay Sapphire is not distilled in copper, but in special “Catterheed” cubes. Herbs are placed in special mesh baskets so that alcohol vapors are additionally saturated with aromas. Thanks to this technology, the gin acquires a light floral bouquet.
Tanqueray
This brand also comes from the shores of Foggy Albion, but the brand has achieved the greatest recognition, oddly enough, in the New World, and not the Old World, namely, in the USA. Like Gordons, Tanqueray is named after the founder of the company, Charles Tanqueray, who opened production in London’s Bloombury in 1830.
This is London Dry Gin, made by double distillation with the addition of herbs and spices, but which ones are the secret of the manufacturer. Sommeliers recognized only juniper, angelica, licorice and coriander with certainty. The strength of the drink varies from 40% to 47,3% depending on the market.
Booth’s (Бутс)
Possibly one of the oldest types of gin made today, the history of the brand dates back to 1740. The founding father of the brand, Philip Booth, not only produced alcoholic beverages, but financed the Ross polar expedition with the proceeds, which is still reminiscent of Booth Bay, Felix Harbor and several other toponyms.
A feature of Boots gin is aging in oak sherry casks, thanks to which the drink has a golden yellow color and a rich bouquet.
Gilbey’s
Gin Gilbis owes his appearance to Sir Walter Gilby, a baronet and participant in the Crimean War. In 1857, returning from the battlefield, the young aristocrat, together with his younger brother Alfred, set up a trade in colonial wines, and a few years later he opened his own distillery.
In 1872, the brothers began producing gin, which today is especially popular in America and the Philippines.
Plymouth
Initially, this was the name of any gin made in the English city of Plymouth, it was not a brand, but a name protected by origin. However, today in the mentioned city there is only one production – Black Friars, which owned all the rights to the brand, until the sale in 1996. Today the brand is part of the Pernod Ricard alcohol concern.
The history of this gin begins in 1793, although the Dominican monastery (whose successors are the “black brothers”) existed at the beginning of the XNUMXth century.
Plymouth Gin is slightly sweeter than most London Drys. It is believed that this is due to the high content of various herbs, and especially roots, due to which the drink has an “earthy” flavor with softened juniper tones.
Greenall’s (Grinalls)
In 1762, Thomas Greenall built a brewery, and so began the history of the company, which in the 1990s retrained from winemakers to hoteliers. However, the gin was not Mr. Greenall at all, but his competitor, Thomas Dakin, twenty miles further. Only thanks to complex economic and family ties in 1870, these two industries merged: the first gave the new company a recipe for gin, and the second – a name.
Neither the recipe nor the technology has changed since the time of Mr. Dakin: all the herbs that make up the drink (which ones are not exactly known) are soaked in grain alcohol in order to convey the taste and aroma of Greenalls gin to the maximum.
Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin (Сигремс)
Another fairly young brand that has achieved popular love and recognition. Seagram’s Extra Dry Gin did not enter the market until 1939, but today it is as popular as many older brands.
A feature of production is distillation at low temperatures in order to extract the maximum taste and aroma from the ingredients. The drink is then sent to age noble in oak barrels.
Thanks to this technology, gin is famous for its mild taste and exquisite unobtrusive bouquet.
Hayman’s (Hymans)
Unlike many other brands, Hymans specializes not only in the London Dry style, but also in Old Tom – alcohol, “dry” Dutch jenever, but sweeter than the classic “London Dry”.
The company was founded in 1821, but gin began to be produced only in 1863. According to the official information on the manufacturer’s website, the gin recipe has not changed since then.
London Hill (London Hill)
Another old English brand that has existed since the 1785th century – namely, since XNUMX.
Not much is known about the London Hill recipe, only that it contains about a dozen herbs that are ground into a puree and double distilled along with grain alcohol.
