Despite its name, London Dry Gin doesn’t have to be made in London. It is a style of gin defined by how it is produced rather than where it is made. A distillery in Somerset, Scotland or anywhere else in the world can produce a London Dry Gin, provided it follows strict production rules.
A Style, Not a Place
The name “London Dry” dates back to the 18th century, when London became famous for producing gin. Over time, the term evolved to describe a method of production rather than a geographical location.
Today, the legal definition focuses on quality and craftsmanship. It’s about the distillation process, not the postcode of the distillery. When I trained as a gin distiller I was told that it was more challenging to make a good London Dry so I have stuck with this ever since.
How Is London Dry Gin Made?
London Dry Gin starts with a high-quality neutral spirit, I purchase mine Duty Paid but most distillers buy it without the duty paid which they do at a later date. This spirit is then redistilled with natural botanicals, of which juniper must be the dominant flavour. Common botanicals include coriander seed, angelica root, citrus peel and a wide range of herbs, spices and flowers.
One of the defining rules is that all the flavour must come from the botanicals during distillation. Artificial flavourings cannot be added afterwards, and the gin must remain clear and colourless. After distillation, only water is normally added to reduce the spirit to its bottling strength, I make sure my water is of the finest quality and have purchased distilled water in the past.
These standards ensure that the finished gin reflects the quality of the botanicals and the skill of the distiller.
London Dry Gin has become the benchmark for quality gin around the world. It represents a traditional method of production where flavour is created through the careful distillation of natural botanicals, led by juniper.
So, the next time you see the words London Dry Gin on a bottle, remember they don’t tell you where the gin was made. They tell you how it was made. Behind those three words lies a commitment to craftsmanship, natural botanicals and the timeless art of distillation.
All of Dryad Gins are London Drys. When I was trialing I was told it’s the hardest style to make so I set myself the challenge of making all my gins London Dry.