The Very British Beefeater Gin

Beefeater Gin is a brand of gin that is bottled a distributed in the U.K. It is made by the company of James Burrough.  The gin is 47% proof in Britain but 40%  proof everywhere else.  It sells for about $22 a bottle.

The makers of Beefeater are located in Kennington, London. The brand is well known for the iconic image on its label of a yeoman Warder (Beefeater Guard from the Tower of London) dressed in ceremonial uniform.  The imported Beefeater is provided by the company Pernod Ricard.  Three out of four bottles of gin imported into the U.S are Beefeater which is a great testimony to it’s popularity.

The gin is unique because it contains nine different botanicals including angleica, juniper. Coriander seed, liquorice, almonds, orris root, lemon peel and Seville oranges.  This is a distillation of herbs that is added to the gin.  The distilled spirit is actually blended and bottled in Scotland.

Although British Beefeater Gin is a classic the company did also put out a contemporary variation in October 2008. This gin was made with rare Japanese sencha and Chinese green tea.

It also put out another special edition in the summer of 2010. This special edition gin is lighter version of the regular and has a little less juniper in it. It has blackcurrant, elderberry and hibiscus flower added. The alcohol level on this is also lower at forty percent.

The classic gin is and always be the staple of the “shaken and not stirred” variety of London Martini. It is one of the driest gins available and in fact the Beefeater Martini is synonymous with a dry martini.  It tastes very spicy and fruity and is perfect in other drinks as well such as Tom Collins or a gin and tonic.

Beefeater Gin is a favourite of the Royal Family and is also the only gin on served on the Queen Elizabeth II to New York.

To make a classic British gin martini pour

2 ½ ounces gin

½ ounce dry vermouth

1 green olive or lemon twist for the garnish

Orange or Angostura bitter (a dash)

Pour the ingredients into a mixing glass with ice cubes and stir. Strain into a chilled cocktail glass.  Add a dash of bitters and the olive or lemon twist.

There is your classic James Bond martini that is shaken and not stirred.  To change the martin into a dry martini garnish it with a cocktail onion.