In the hierarchy of gins, there’s none more well-known than the classic London dry gin. For those unaware, this gin style is a juniper-driven, piney, dry gin that’s a popular choice for cocktails like the Gin & Tonic, Gimlet, and more.
You probably won’t be surprised that in my years of writing about alcohol, I’ve spent a lot of time imbibing the various gin styles. I can safely say that no other style is as flavorful and versatile as London dry gin. In fact, I would be so bold as to say that London dry gin is the only style you’ll ever need to keep in your home bar cart.
What is London dry gin?
Before we really get into why London dry gin is so versatile, it’s time to take a deep dive into what exactly it is. First, you should know that just because it has London in its name, this isn’t the only city where it’s made.
“London dry gin as a name leads one to believe that it may be a designation of place where this distilled spirit can be produced; however, the main focus of the designation of London dry gin or London gin really centers around process and quality control,” says Jon O’Connor, co-founder/COO of Long Road Distillers and President of the Michigan Craft Distillers Association.
London Dry Gin can be produced anywhere as long as it adheres to the established standards.
“The European Union updated its official definition in 2019 to highlight the following requirements: It must be produced from ethyl alcohol of agricultural origin to a proof no less than 140, with only trace amounts of methanol; it cannot contain coloring; it cannot have sweetener in a concentration more than 0.1 grams per liter; and must be bottled at a proof higher than 75,” says O’Connor.
It should be noted that gin has a long and storied history in England and other parts of Europe.
“But given some of the less than favorable outcomes resulting from gin production in the 18th and 19th century, emphasis has been made in crafting higher standards to ensure gin produced in the London Dry style is of a quality and standard that are trusted by the consumer,” he adds.
How is it made?
While the flavoring of gin is predominantly juniper, all of the botanical flavoring contained within London Dry style gin must be achieved through the distillation process of the botanicals, and flavorings cannot be added after the fact or incorporated in any other fashion.
“The term ‘dry’ is important and is ensured through the requirements that sugar must not be added in any concentration higher than 0.1 grams per liter,” he says.
When you think of gin and what it tastes like, your mind probably jumps immediately to the flavor profile of a classic London Dry gin with some history and notoriety.
“Juniper is forward in its flavor profile with some element of citrus and a combination of supporting botanicals and bittering roots.”
Why does it work so well in cocktails?
So many historic and foundational cocktails were most likely created utilizing a London Dry Gin as the base.
“From the humble Gin & Tonic or Tom Collins to the legendary Martini or an equal parts legend like the Negroni or Last Word. Gin is the backbone of so many cocktails that have served as the framework for generations of bartenders to build upon around the world.”
He adds, “London Dry works exceptionally well with cocktails for a variety of reasons, chief among them is due to the quality; great spirits are necessary for great drinks. Another key factor is flavor; London Dry, regardless of brand, has a bold flavor profile that contributes to the complexity and depth of a drink.”
