Gordon's is undoubtedly one of the gin OGs and the oldest gin brand you'd be bound to find on any supermarket shelf. It was first distilled over 250 years ago, back in 1769, by a Londoner called Alexander Gordon. The exact botanical bill used in Gordon’s is still a trade secret today, but the usual suspects are juniper, coriander, angelica and licorice.

Alexander Gordon and the original Gordon's Dry Gin bottle label designs. (Image source: Gordons)

Alexander Gordon was said to be a perfectionist when it came to distilling his gin, even demanding that his son complete a 7-year apprenticeship with him before handing over the reigns to the company. His perfectionism paid off however, quickly helping establish Gordon's as a reputable gin company with a focus on quality.

This differentiation was particularly crucial and valued by consumers during the 1770s, as prior to that, the London gin distilling scene was mainly dominated by back street and illegally produced gin that was of dubious quality and origin. 

Gordon's was also one of the first gin distillers to embrace the style of London Dry Distillation, though the term London Dry only formally appeared on Gordon’s distinctive green bottles around the early 1900s. By the 1960's, Gordon's had achieved the status of being the world's best selling gin brand.

Fun fact: on the label, you might notice a picture of a wild boar! The story goes that one of Alexander Gordon’s ancestors had saved the King of Scotland from a wild boar during a hunt. Since then, the Gordon’s family crest was that of a boar. This motif was then repurposed by Alexander for his gin label, and has been kept the same since!

Gordon's London Dry Gin, 43% ABV - Tasting Notes

Aroma: Lays on thick with the scent of piney juniper, backed by a prickly pepperiness and a hint of lemon citrus peel.

Taste: Fresh and crisp with predominant juniper character. The underlying profile is quite earthy, with notes of coriander seeds, angelica root and licorice. In the mix is also some lemon zest and menthol.

Finish: Medium, with fading notes of juniper, coriander spice and citrus peels.

Overall Thoughts:

Gordon’s is traditional but not old fashioned, and can still hack it in today’s modern times. It’s a very quintessential London Dry that’s bang for buck - delivering a fresh, crisp piney spirit with nice earthiness and citrus accents at a comparatively affordable price option and with minimal fuss. It’s very mixable, particularly with tonic water or with more spirit-forward classic Gin cocktails like the Negroni or a Martini.

| Read more: A Guide to Supermarket Gin Shopping - Gordon's vs. Tanqueray vs. Bombay Sapphire vs. Beefeater

With Juniper & Joy