Beefeater London Crown Jewel Gin 1L
A special edition from Beefeater, they advise this is the pinacle of their collection - we agree!
Description
Beefeater London Crown Jewel Gin
The history of Beefeater goes back to 1862 when James Burroughs purchased a distillery in Chelsea (an area within London). In 1863, James Burrogh's first distinctive style of gin was being produced.
The original Beefeater Gin recipe (from which their Crown Jewel edition is developed), comes from 1895. It specified the nine botanicals which are essential (juniper, lemon zest, Seville orange peel, almond, coriander seed, orris root, licorice root, angelica, and angelica seed), and these are still used today. Whilst they have now changed location to a larger premises Beefeater sticks to its traditions and still distils in the heart of London on the banks of the River Thames.
Fun Fact: The name Beefeater refers to the Yeomen of the Guard (found at the Tower of London, and commonly called Beefeaters) who are a bodyguard of the British Monarch.
The current bottle, which forms the fourth release of the gin is a deep red colour, and features a raven swooping down to clutch an orb. This is a reference to the ravens found at the Tower. It is said that should they every leave the Tower then the White Tower (a symbol of the Monarchy) will fall - and with it the Kingdom.
The gin itself uses the same nine botanicals found in the classic Beefeater London gin, but with the addition of a tenth - Grapefruit Peel. It is also bottled at a higher abv of 50%. On the nose there is a pronounced aroma of citrus zest, with piney juniper, a little spice and a hint of violet.
As this has a higher alcohol percentage, the flavours come through a lot stronger - bursting on the palate. The juniper is defined, with plenty of pine which is joined by a sweet, almost candied citrus peel, hints of liquorice and a tough of light spice. Throughout, the grapefruit tantalises the tastebuds, but doesnt overwhelm the palate.
The finish is crisp and dry. A touch of spice lingering on the tip of the tongue. It however remains smooth, which is striking in a gin of this strength.
More from Beefeater
Perfect Serve
We enjoyed this best in a classic gin & tonic, which allows the flavours of the gin to shine through. Take a large glass filled with ice and add 50ml of the gin. Gently pour over 150ml of your chosen (neutral) tonic. We loved this with Fentimans Connoiseurs Tonic water. Stir gently, and garnish with some juniper berries and a wedge of grapefruit.
