DESMOND PAYNE: Many highlights, but mostly during my time at Beefeater. The development of Beefeater 24 is one of my proudest achievements, along with the various other gins I have introduced since. It is such a terrific time to be involved in gin production. There is a real excitement and buzz around the category.

Let’s talk alcohol: The gins produced by Beefeater vary in alcohol content. So much so that some consumers were disappointed in a recent decision to decrease the ABV. Beefeater used to bottle its gin at 94 proof in the U.S. Now, its bottled gin is sold at 88 proof. A Beefeater is actually a Yeoman Warder of the Tower of London who have guarded the Tower for 500 years and Beefeater share more than just a name with the Guardsman, they share the bond to London past, present and future. THE GIN GUILD: Beefeater is such an iconic and recognised brand, what makes it different to all of the other gins on the market? I enjoyed a selection of Petit Fours, underlining the creaminess, sweetness, in particular, the white chocolate and marzipan note coming through.DESMOND PAYNE: All gins are different in some respect or other. It all depends on what the recipe of botanicals is – that’s where the flavour comes from, and how the gin is produced – that’s where the character comes from. Sitting in my office at the Beefeater Distillery, I am watched over by the portrait of James Burrough, Beefeater’s founder. He is making sure that I don’t tamper with his recipe! What Burrough achieved was a gin that had balance and complexity. The sheer mixture of flavours and aromas from the botanicals captivated me. There seemed such a wider range than appeared in wine. Beefeater’s premium offering is still an exceptionally well-made gin with wide appeal. Fans of Japanese gins looking for something a bit more widely available will find Beefeater 24 an apt substitute. DESMOND PAYNE: Eight gins in the past nine years – and none in the previous forty! That indicates the popularity of gin today.

The choice of Green Tea leaves was intentional— because they are steamed right after harvesting, they don’t have any of the oxidized notes that other types of tea may have. Tasting NotesAlong with its fruit-flavored expressions that are likely destined for spritzes, additional bottlings include Beefeater 24, marketed as Beefeater’s superior dry gin. The 24 refers to the 24 hours of steeping the (12) botanicals, which include Chinese and Japanese teas. In case you haven’t noticed, every Beefeater gin uses a select number of botanicals. The select London dry gin uses nine botanicals. Beefeater’s flavored gin, such as 24, uses 12 botanicals. Further, the blood orange and pink gin use 10 botanicals. But numbers aside, where this distillery’s love for flora is is its botanical room, where its ingredients are stored. I know, so obvious. Beefeater’s Burrough’s Reserve is a limited-edition, oak-rested gin that is distilled using James Burrough’s original copper “Still Number 12.” The most recent release is rested in red and white Bordeaux wine barrels.

Recently, after 150 years, the famous distillery opened its doors to the public, inviting visitors to take a tour to learn about the history, distilling process, and take a glimpse at the original stills. By booking a tour online or using a London pass, tourists can indulge in an interactive experience at the distillery. It’s no secret that Beefeater is London’s best gin. Beefeater’s name origin refers to the Yeomen of the Guard, bodyguards of the British monarchy. To craft its signature London dry gin, Beefeater uses its original recipe of nine botanicals: juniper, angelica root, angelica seeds, coriander seeds, licorice, almonds, orris root, Seville oranges, and lemon peel. What was a startling contemporary style gin upon its launch now comes across as rather traditional. But that’s no criticism of Beefeater 24.

My Account

Beefeater’s sustainable efforts saved 410 tons of plastic within the first months of release, a number equivalent to that of 17 million plastic water bottles. Sencha is the most popular type of tea in Japan, renowned for its vegetal and grassy flavor. Chinese green tea is sweeter and a bit brighter.