The aroma from the glass is intensely floral. It has a sharp perfume-like quality which similar to freshly bloomed lilacs. The more familiar gin aromas of earthy juniper, spicy cardamom, lemon peel and orange citrus lie somewhat behind that floral intensity. The London No 1 gin er en af vores foretrukne gin, når det kommer til at lave en helt klassisk gin & tonic. Ginnens smagsnoter er mange, og inviterer ginnen til gin og tonics, der involverer urter og citrusfrugter. Man kan med fordel tilføje peber for at frembringe urtesmagen i sin gin og tonic.

The London No. 1 Original Blue Gin is a product of Gonzalas Byass who are a Spanish wine/cellars company which also produces a variety of distilled spirits including brandy, anisette, botanical vodka and of course gin. Their gin is triple distilled (from English grain in London, England) on a traditional pot still in small batches.

Where we are

The great thing about gin is it can be stored for years without going off, but it’s recommended to drink it within two years of opening. Even if you tightly reseal it, it’ll likely lose taste and quality if you leave it any longer. What are the different types of gin? 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. Since Gonzalez Byass launched London No. 1 in 2005, it has seen tremendous growth in the Spanish market, growing 253 percent between 2011 and 2013. According to Nielsen, London No. 1 has gained a total market share of more than 12 percent in the super-premium gin segment. There is also a light astringency in the air above the glass stemming from the higher than normal alcohol content, and this sharpness combined with the intense floral characteristic of the gin seems to be serving as a warning that the Blue Gin just might be a little more intense and flavourful than I had expected… even for a 47 % abv. spirit! In the Mouth 50/60

The product was first test marketed in Spain, and was then launched in limited quantities internationally in 2012. It is bottled at 47 % alcohol by volume ensuring a more concentrated flavour than more traditional spirits which are bottled at 40 % alcohol by volume. I original;ly reviewed this spirit in 2013 when it was first introduced in Canada. Recently I was given a new sample bottle and so I have decided to revisit London No. 1 Original Blue Gin to see if my original tasting notes still represented the spirit. In the Bottle 4.5/5 I like the new bottle and especially like the solid synthetic corked closure. I also like that the bottle is clear allowing you to see the pale turquoise blue colour of the gin. The highest quality Suffolk and Norfolk grain is used in distillation and the small batch “pot still” method ensures a consistent quality. Finally, the inclusion of 12 carefully selected botanicals makes The London No. 1 a gin to be savoured.

The London No 1 GIN & TONIC

Martin’s heritage in the tea and spice world meant he could transfer his deep understanding of blending herbs and spices into developing a much more complex premium gin than most on the market by using powerful flavours like Bergamot. In developing The London No 1 with Charles Maxwell (a 7th generation distiller), he used a unique blend of 12 botanicals. The gin is finished with bergamot oil, giving a perfumed aroma of Earl Grey tea. Citrus qualities marry beautifully with the fresh and juicy flavors of Italian orange and lemon peel. London No. 1 is quadruple-distilled, resulting in a full-bodied, modern gin that has a nose with marked notes of balsamic herbs, spices, juniper and truffle. Inspired by the heritage of London Style gins that used to create a striking ‘blue haze’ in their distillation process, they set about creating a unique blue gin. Like many spirits, getting the exacting colour took time before settling on the captivating shade of pale blue created by a delicate alkaline colouring.

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. Critics are enjoying London No. 1, as well. In 2013, London No. 1 took home gold medals in both The Spirits Business Gin Masters Competition and WSWA Tasting Competition hosted by Tasting Panel Magazine.

Try a London No. 1 Sample…

There are four different types of gin: London dry gin, old Tom, Plymouth and navy strength gin. Is gin gluten-free?