🥃 Beefeater
London dry gin made by James Burrough from 1863; nine botanicals, about 24 hours of steeping; owned by Pernod Ricard since 2005.
Beefeater is a London dry gin brand made by James Burrough from 1863 and now produced by Pernod Ricard. The gin uses nine botanicals, including juniper, angelica and Seville orange, steeped in spirit for about 24 hours before distillation. Base is 40% ABV, and Beefeater 24 is 45%.
James Burrough bought a distillery in Chelsea in 1862 or 1863 (sources differ) and began making his own gin in 1863. The name Beefeater appears in the accounts of 1876. In 1908 production moved to Lambeth, and in 1958 to Kennington in London. Until 1987 the brand stayed in the Burrough family, and then it was owned by Whitbread and Allied Domecq. Since 2005 the owner has been Pernod Ricard. Allied Domecq no longer exists as a company, so the "owner" field in the catalogue should be corrected to "Pernod Ricard".
The nine botanicals are juniper, angelica root and seed, coriander, liquorice, almond, orris root, Seville orange and lemon peel. They are steeped for about 24 hours. Beefeater 24 appeared in 2009: green tea (sencha) and grapefruit were added to the recipe. In the US the strength of the brand was lowered from 47 to 44 and then to 40%.
We found the story that Burrough was a pharmacist in no confirmed sources and do not use it.
Why this matters to you. Beefeater Base and Beefeater 24 differ in strength: 40 and 45% ABV. Version 24 has extra botanicals, and the strength has varied from country to country. Check the percentage on the label. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe amount of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1863, James Burrough (London); disputed – 1862; the name Beefeater – from 1876 |
|---|---|
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I (gin, min. 37.5% ABV) |
| EU category | 22 – London gin (numbering as in b8) |
| Raw material | 9 botanicals: juniper, angelica (root and seed), coriander, liquorice, almond, orris root, Seville orange, lemon peel |
| Distillation method | steeped in spirit for about 24 hours before distillation |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 40% ABV (Base); 45% (Beefeater 24) |
What it includes
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Beefeater → kind of → 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Pernod Ricard
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits, 🍸 Gin
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🍸 London gin, 🍸 Distilled gin, 🥃 Gordon's, 🥃 Gordon's, 🥃 Tanqueray, 🥃 Tanqueray, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire, 🥃 Hendrick's, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire Gin
Frequently asked questions
Is it true that James Burrough was a pharmacist?
We found no confirmation in verified sources, so we do not state this. What is known is that he bought a distillery in Chelsea in 1862 or 1863 and made his own gin from 1863.
How many botanicals are in Beefeater?
Nine: juniper, angelica root and seed, coriander, liquorice, almond, orris root, Seville orange, lemon peel.
Who owns Beefeater?
Pernod Ricard, since 2005. Before that the brand belonged to Whitbread and Allied Domecq, and until 1987 to the Burrough family.
How does Beefeater 24 differ from Base?
Since 2009 the recipe has included green tea (sencha) and grapefruit, and the strength is 45% against 40% for Base.
When was Beefeater founded?
James Burrough bought a distillery in 1862 or 1863 and has made his own gin since 1863. The name Beefeater is known from the accounts of 1876.
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.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
- 🍸 London gin — The EU's strictest distilled gin: aroma from distillation only, no colourings, up to 0.1 g/l of sugar, at least 37.5% vol.
Similar
🥃 Bombay Sapphire · 🥃 Gordon's · 🥃 Tanqueray · 🥃 Hendrick's · 🥃 Pimm's · 🥃 Royal Salute
⚠️ 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
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Art. 2 and Annex I
- Pernod Ricard: Beefeater (власник марки)
- Beefeater: офіційний сайт марки (дев'ять рослин, настоювання 24 години)
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)