Of all the gins out there, none hit the sweet spot between classic gin flavour and moreish complexity quite like No. 3. If you have room for just one gin on your shelf, we’d make it this one.

We’re in the process of planning a ‘Local Heroes’ edition for the Italian market that we’re really excited about – this is due to be released this September just in time for Italian Gin Day.While gin is made from distilled grain spirit, it doesn’t contain gluten peptides and is therefore gluten-free and safe for coeliacs. The verdict: Best gin 2023 Are there any particular champions of the brand within the on-trade/ bars/ people that you work with? We were warmly welcomed in the bar area on the ground floor before being escorted to the basement to begin our experience. The Ginstitute will have its new home there, there will be a Spanish style ‘Gintonica’ restaurant (inspired by the popularity of Gin & Tonics in Spain), a gin shop, blending rooms, private dining and even boutique guest rooms.

Looking at the category generally, there are a few ways gin could go. Look at how vodka has changed, perhaps we’ll see some consolidation in gin, then only a handful of new brands emerging, and may be some will have enough regional loyalty to keep going. But there are those without an established route to market, we could see some disappear. Or it could go the way of Armagnac, dozens of small producers all selling thousands of cases.’ When Jake roamed, it was heady time for Leeds, it could offer one of the best nights out in the country, with Burger rubbing shoulders with the likes of Mal Evans and Roger Needham at Mojo, Skippy Jupp and Declan McGurk of the successful Arc Inspirations and Si Ord with bars like Sandinista. But once established, Leelex and Jake journeyed south to conquer the big smoke, first opening Portobello Star on Portobello Road, before The Distillery at the end of 2016. When we arrived in Portobello we first opened the Portobello Star bar,’ he says. ‘We looked at launching something and gin seemed the obvious choice,’ says Burger. ‘The history of London and gin are intertwined, you can’t tell one story without mentioning the other. That being said, consumer tastes have changed— dramatically. Floral and herbal facets are popular and widely sought after. While Portobello Road Gin does some nice things with its nutmeg, cassia, coriander and licorice botanicals— I can’t help but feel that it tastes a bit dated. Jake is modest, so it’s worth stating his reputation was so strong that the customers who had enjoyed his drinks at Townhouse, followed him across town to have those drinks in his new bar. It’s an affection he has retained all the way through to the present day.

Flavor Profile

So from small acorns, washing up in a themed bar, to his own place, Leeds domination and then down to the searing lights – or dusty antique shops – of Portobello Road. And now a Distillery and a gin. And the gin has been a huge success. Then I had a short spell in what became my only foray into fine dining at a place called Rascasse. That’s the last time I interviewed for job. They wanted someone with sommelier experience, I knew nothing about wine but bluffed through the interview. Then in 1995 I went to Indie Joe’s which was where things started to change.’ For example, we were the first spirits brand to create a gin using British asparagus which was the first of our annual limited edition Director’s Cut gins and was created by founder Paul Lane. We’ll be announcing details of our second Director’s Cut very soon which will be an extra special edition by Ged Feltham to celebrate our fifth anniversary. When we then went into the distillery to continue our experience and then to our cosy little gin making area, it just got better & better. Made by historic London wine merchants Berry Bros. & Rudd, the six-botanical spirit took two years to develop with Dr David Clutton – a man who holds a PhD in gin (yep, that exists). It was worth the effort.

Portobello Road No. 171 Gin is a solid mixing gin behind the bar. I tend to be less a fan of spice-forward gins in a gin and tonic or gin and soda. Paired with a citrus seltzer or citrus tonic water, it becomes brighter and lets the juniper shine. We’ve also won some fantastic accolades – Portobello Road Gin was the only London Dry Gin in the premium category to win the top ranking ‘Master’ accolade in the Global Gin Masters 2015. The marketing spiel says this is “gin, just as it should be”, and while marketing spiels are usually guff, this one happens to be spot on. It’s hard to find a gin simultaneously this archetypal – it’s a classic London Dry – this elegant, and this flavourful (the finish goes on and on). Whether you’re a G&T obsessive or martini connoisseur, No. 3 hits the mark every time. Though, for the record: we like it best with a slug of classic Indian tonic. For nine months, the founders Ged Feltham and Jake Burger experimented and obsessed about creating the perfect balanced blend of craft gin. The character slowly developed and finally, in 2011, Portobello Road No 171 Gin was born. Now – almost 5 years later – our brand is on sale in thousands of bars and stores such as Waitrose and Selfridges and is available in numerous countries which is an incredible achievement and something we are all immensely proud of.There are four different types of gin: London dry gin, old Tom, Plymouth and navy strength gin. Is gin gluten-free?

So perhaps Burger is celebrated because he is not only the quintessential bartender, he is beyond bartender. Portobello gin is destined for a happy ending, even so, Jake isn’t resting on laurels. The new bar at the Distillery is full of innovative twists to keep the company moving forward – barrel spirits being served via taps for example, which we’ve not seen anywhere else before – a barrel fresh approach. Meanwhile they are making all manner of other spirits there, there was the Worcester sauce vodka previously mentioned, which was incredible, toasted coffee bean vodka, and a pechuga gin that followed the mezcal traditions of putting meat in the still when distilling. Today you can buy Butter Gin, Special Reserves, Local Heroes Gin made with Mark Knopfler, even a 4% low abv gin called Temperance.

Portobello Road No. 171 Details

Having opened several successful bars and restaurants in Leeds, in 2008 they decided to open their first London bar, The Portobello Star which of course shares its moniker with the road it is located upon. Portobello Road Gin is still run by a small group of directors but we’re all incredibly passionate about our brand, the product and our loyal customers. It’s this unwavering passion that motivates us to work long hours and to keep on innovating. We’ve released a few limited edition blends which allow us to experiment with new and interesting botanicals and flavours in addition to our signature 171 blend.