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Beefeater Gin
About Beefeater Gin
Although we’ve reviewed many different styles of gin, there’s one I’ve been meaning to explore more thoroughly: London Dry Gin. And I thought the classic and affordable Beefeater Gin would be the perfect to begin my personal journey with this famous English spirit.
Beefeater, the nickname of The Yeomen Warders who have guarded the Tower of London for centuries, was first established by James Burrough in 1863 and is currently the only international gin that’s still distilled in the heart of London. They still use Burrough’s original recipe that includes nine botanicals: juniper, seville oranges, lemon peel, almond, angelica root and seed, coriander seed, orris root and licorice root.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: London Dry Gin
❖ Distillery: The Beefeater Distillery in Montrose Place, London, England
❖ ABV:44% (88 Proof)
❖ Low Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Color: Clear
❖ Nose: Pine, Juniper, Lemon and Orange
❖ Taste: Slighty Bitter, Juniper, Pine, Licorice, Slight Creamy Sweetness. A bit of heat but not as much as the 44% ABV could suggest.
❖ Finish: Long, Licorice, Pine. I also got a slight tingling numbness on my tongue I’ve never experienced before
Cocktail
Marmalade Daiquiri
1 Part Gin
1 Spoonful of Orange Marmalade
1/4 Part Lime Juice
1/4 Part Agave Syrup
❖ Add ingredients to a shaker, fill with ice and shake until chilled
❖ Fine strain into a chilled glass and garnish with a lime wheel
Since I’ve already sampled most of the traditional gin cocktails, I was on the lookout for something new. And, this Marmalade Daiquiri from Beefeater was exactly what I was hoping to find. Not only is this the first time I’ve seen a daiquiri variation with gin, but I’m also always intrigued when a recipe calls for a fruit jelly, jam or marmalade (I don’t really know the difference). Also, as a side note, Beefeater had one of the longest lists of cocktails, and I want to try pretty much all of them.
I was surprised how well this recipe emulated a traditional daiquiri while still feeling like a gin based cocktail. The agave and marmalade add a rich sweetness that’s reminiscent of sweeter notes common to rum, and Beefeater Gin adds distinct pine and licorice notes that really stand out in the finish. And while I wish there was a bit more cohesion between the sweet and bitter flavors, I still plan to add this to my summer cocktail rotation.
Bottom Line
RATING: 3/5
If you’re looking for an affordable gin with a classic flavor profile that works well in cocktails, Beefeater Gin is a great option. I enjoyed the pleasant blend of juniper, pine and citrus on the nose, and the addition of bitter licorice on the palate.
It’s not one of my favorite gins neat, but all the distinct flavors work well in cocktails, especially ones with citrus juices and tonics. But, I found it a bit too bitter to balance well in spirit-forward cocktails, and it’s my least favorite gin for a martini out of the ones I’ve tried recently. This limits the number of cocktails I’ll make using Beefeater, but the price is low enough to lessen the disappointment, and I wouldn’t hesitate to bring this to a party this summer.
As always, drink responsibly.
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