🥃 Beefeater London Dry Gin
The core gin of the Beefeater brand: a London dry gin at 40% ABV with nine botanicals, at least 24 hours of steeping and pot distillation.
Beefeater London Dry Gin is the core expression of the Beefeater brand and the reference line against which the rest are compared. It is a London dry gin at 40% ABV. It kept this strength when competitors lowered theirs to 37.5% in the early 1990s. Juniper with citrus dominates the profile.
According to Difford's Guide, the botanicals are Tuscan juniper, coriander seed, liquorice, orris root, Seville orange, Spanish lemon peel, bitter almonds, and angelica root and seed. They steep in a wheat-based grain spirit for at least 24 hours. The mixture is then distilled in a pot still: steam heats the base, and distillation takes more than seven hours. The owner is Pernod Ricard, and production is in Kennington, London.
Why this matters to you. This line is the reference point: Beefeater 24 adds tea and a higher strength, and Beefeater Pink has flavouring and a lower strength. For the US the producer makes a separate stronger version, so check the percentage on the label. The WHO reminds us that there is no safe level of alcohol consumption.
Facts
| Year founded | a line of the Beefeater brand (James Burrough, London, 1863 according to the brand page) |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I (gin, min. 37.5% ABV) |
| Raw material | wheat-based grain spirit; nine botanicals, including Tuscan juniper and Seville orange |
| Distillation method | steeping for at least 24 hours, pot distillation over seven hours |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (47% in the US according to Difford's Guide) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Beefeater London Dry Gin → affects → 🍷 Alcohol and health ← affects ← 🥃 Spirits
Links
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Part of
- 🥃 Beefeater, 🍸 Gin, 🍸 London gin
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Gordon's, 🥃 Tanqueray, 🥃 Beefeater Crown Jewel, 🥃 Beefeater Crown Jewel, 🥃 Beefeater Pink, 🥃 Beefeater Pink
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that Beefeater London Dry has nine botanicals?
Yes, nine, if the angelica root and angelica seed are counted separately: juniper, coriander, liquorice, orris root, Seville orange, lemon peel, bitter almonds, angelica root and angelica seed.
What is the strength of London Dry?
40% ABV in most countries. For the US, according to Difford's Guide, there is a 47% version.
How long do the botanicals steep?
At least 24 hours in grain spirit, followed by pot distillation of more than seven hours.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🥃 Tanqueray — A London dry gin founded in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in Bloomsbury; now owned by Diageo and produced in Scotland.
- 🥃 Beefeater Crown Jewel — A strong Beefeater gin for travel retail: 50% ABV, ten botanicals including grapefruit peel; sold since 1993.
Similar
🥃 Beefeater 24 · 🥃 Beefeater Crown Jewel · 🥃 Beefeater Pink · 🥃 Gordon's London Dry Gin · 🥃 Gordon's Premium Pink · 🥃 Bombay Sapphire Gin
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
Sources
- Difford's Guide: Beefeater London Dry Gin (40 % ABV; Tuscan juniper, coriander, liquorice, orris, angelica, Seville orange, lemon peel, bitter almonds; wheat neutral spirit; pot still over seven hours)
- Difford's Guide: Beefeater production (botanicals, 24-hour steeping, pot still; Kennington distillery; 24 and Crown Jewel strengths)
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Annex I: gin, distilled gin, London gin (min. 37,5 % ABV)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)