Beefeater 24 London Dry Gin, 70 cl

Product Information

DESMOND PAYNE: Well, there are always new concepts and ideas in my mind. I haven’t finished yet, that’s for sure! DESMOND PAYNE: The answer is in the question – it must first of all be neutral. There is a different character, rather than flavour, from different base materials but I do not want to taste what the spirit was made from. As a 19-year-old management trainee I was expected to spend some time in every department but it was the distillery that fascinated me. Seagers owned the Plymouth Gin distillery and that was my next step in training. With distilleries now demonstrating a wide range of creative expressions of gin, bartenders are uber-excited about using this spirit in their drinks. So much so, that when we asked drinks professionals around the U.S. for their best recommendations for gins, Beefeater came up — a lot. DESMOND PAYNE: Eight gins in the past nine years – and none in the previous forty! That indicates the popularity of gin today.

The overall gustatory sensation is medium complex, rather mellow and mild in character, whilst not overly intense or pungent whatsoever. Given that this is 45% alcohol by volume, the gin goes down smoothly creamy. 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. As a contrast, certain cigars could be excellent accompaniments to this mellow gin. I went for an old-school Cuban smoke with a limited edition from Cohiba. In general, I would recommend something that adds a bit of spice, a layer of complexity in character and a touch of funkiness, to counter-balance the spirit.Similar to the nose, the first sip feels smooth and oily on the tongue, with the same signature sweetness upfront. What becomes obvious though after just a few seconds, is that the evolution is primarily citrus-laden and fresh. The orange marmalade note, the liveliness, in combination with a newly emanating floral element, adds more crispiness and depth to the palate. Along 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.

DESMOND PAYNE: “Well, it is a long time, that’s for sure, but I tend to live in the present and concentrate on the exciting things that are going on today. This is not to say that I do not have many fond memories of the past five decades. 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. 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. Aroma: Strikingly similar to Beefeater Gin. Citrus, juniper and the slightest hint of licorice root beneath it.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 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 Notes