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Tanqueray Gin
About Tanqueray Gin
Although I’ve already tried several affordable gins this year, I’m still eager to continue my quest for the perfect gin for cocktails. And, I wanted the London dry gin in the iconic green bottle, Tanqueray Gin, to be the next thing I test out.
This iconic British brand was first established in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray. While the original distillery, Vine Street Distillery, is no longer in use, they still use the original recipe of juniper, coriander, angelica root, and licorice.
Bottle Specs
❖ Spirit: London Dry Gin
❖ Distillery: Produced and Bottled in Great Britian for Charles Tanqueray and Co.
❖ ABV: 47.3% (94.6 Proof)
❖ Low Price
Tasting Notes
❖ Nose: Cream, Citrus, Juniper, Bit of an Ethanol Burn
❖ Taste: Initially an odd absence of flavor, then Juniper, Pine, Licorice
❖ Finish: Medium, Pine, Juniper, Salty
Cocktail
Tanqueray Cranberry Pineapple Gin and Juice
1 1/4 oz gin
2 oz cranberry juice
2 oz pineapple juice
❖ Pour ingredients over ice in a collins glass
❖ Stir to combine, and garnish with pineapple slice and leaves
I always get excited to try cocktails that look easy to make, and have a new combination of ingredients. And, I had never seen the combo of pineapple and cranberry juice until this recipe from Tanqueray for a Cranberry Pineapple Gin and Juice. And, there are only three simple ingredients, so I was hoping I found a new low effort cocktail for when I’m feeling lazy.
I wasn’t prepared for how much I would fall in love with the cranberry and pineapple combo. I’ve been drinking it regularly, and sometimes leave out the gin and fill a glass with equal parts pineapple and cranberry juice. It’s tart and refreshing, with a great balance of sweetness and acidity. However, it does overpower the gin a bit. I still get a hint of juniper, pine, and salt. I also went with cranberry juice instead of cocktail, and the sweetness was perfect.
Bottom Line
RATING: 2/5
Tanqueray Gin is an affordable spirit that gets the job done for most cocktails, but I still found it a bit underwhelming. The lack of initial flavor was off-putting, and I’m not generally a big fan of gin with notes of salt. I don’t like how it tastes in spirit forward cocktails, so unfortunately I won’t use it in something like a martini. I would choose the other affordable gins I tested this year, Beefeater and Bombay Sapphire, over Tanqueray Gin.
However, even though I was disappointed, Tanqueray Gin can still be used in cocktails with other bold flavors. It has the expected notes of a London dry gin, and they seem to balance well with the other ingredients. The higher proof helps, too. So, while I might not love this specific offering from Tanqueray, there were enough positive aspects to keep me interested in their other bottles.
As always, drink responsibly.
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