If you are a gin enthusiast, you have almost certainly enjoyed a London Dry Gin. It is the benchmark for classic gins worldwide.
Yet many people do not realise that the name refers to a strict production method rather than a geographical location.
A London Dry Gin does not have to be made in London.
It can be crafted anywhere in the world (i.e in our distillery in Henley, Oxfordshire), provided the distiller follows a specific set of traditional rules.
The Golden Rules of London Dry Gin
To be classified as a London Dry Gin, the spirit must meet stringent legal requirements. These rules ensure a high quality, pure product.
- A Pure Base Spirit The process must begin with a high quality neutral base spirit of agricultural origin.
- All Natural Botanicals All flavours must come from natural plant materials, known as botanicals. These botanicals must be added during the distillation process itself. Distillers cannot just mix in flavourings afterwards.
- Juniper Takes Centre Stage While distillers can use a wide variety of herbs, spices, and citrus, the dominant botanical must always be juniper. This gives the gin its characteristic piney, crisp profile.
- Nothing Added After Distillation This is perhaps the most crucial rule. Once the distillation process is complete, absolutely no artificial flavours or colours can be added. The only substance permitted to be mixed with the final spirit is water, which is used to bring the gin down to its bottling strength. A tiny amount of sweetening is technically allowed by law, but true artisan producers rarely use it.
Why the London Dry Method Matters
Because you cannot hide behind artificial flavourings or syrups added post distillation, making a London Dry Gin requires immense skill. The distiller must perfectly balance the botanicals within the still.
This purity is exactly why we love the London Dry style. When you pour a glass, you are tasting the true, unadulterated oils and aromas extracted from the botanicals.
Our Approach at The Henley Distillery
We take these traditional rules and apply our own artisan philosophy. We craft our gin using handmade copper alembic stills heated over open flames. By carefully controlling the heat and the distillation cut points, we produce an exceptionally smooth spirit.
Furthermore, we choose not to chill filter our gins.
Chill filtration is a commercial process used to prevent a spirit from going cloudy when mixed with ice.
However, it also strips away some of the delicate botanical oils. By skipping this step, we ensure that every drop of flavour from our Szechuan peppercorns, kaffir lime leaves, and lemongrass remains intact in your glass.
There are 101 small decisions that need to be made in the process of making a premium Gin and we ensure that no matter how small, every time we have a decision to make on our process we make it to improve the quality of the Gin and not the batch size or profit margin.
The Perfect Serve
Because a true London Dry Gin is so well balanced, it shines brightest in a simple, classic serve.Â
Plenty of ice, a premium tonic water, and a garnish that complements the core botanicals are all you need to let the spirit speak for itself.