THE BIRTH OF WORLD’S MOST AWARDED GIN*: BEEFEATER LONDON DRY GIN

A brand that claims to be the ‘world’s most awarded gin’ shall certainly have attributes that justify the position of acclaimed alcohol. Beefeater, as most of us know, is one of the leading gin brands in most countries. A 17th-century drink that has lived so far has finally achieved its status of a loved alcoholic beverage. The credit for further popularity goes to brands like Beefeater. ABOUT BEEFEATER GIN Beefeater London Dry Gin is nothing but the best of its kind. It is a name that defines the classic and authentic taste of a perfect gin. The traditional method of crafting this gin is still followed, making it stand out from the rest. Beefeater was created in 1863 by James Burrough, an English pharmacist based in London. His ideas of making a fine gin became so successful that his successors still stick by them. Beefeater London Dry Gin is made from 100% grain spirit and a selected group of nine botanicals- Juniper, lemon peel, Seville orange peel, almond, angelica root, coriander seed, angelica seed, orris root and liquorice root. At some point in time, you must have wondered, why the word Beefeater? Just like the unique making process, the reason behind the name of the brand is the exceptional wittiness of the owners and is worth knowing. The intention behind giving it this name was to pay homage to the country of origin, London, and a significant and true symbol representing its culture. The name is inspired by Yeoman Warders, the Tower of London guards. Along with the wages, they were also given beef to eat; hence, they were called ‘Beefeaters’. Naming the gin after beefeaters were like tributing its origin to the country it is made in. Another fact that makes Beefeater a unique brand is that the big name of Beefeater and the global supply of the gin doesn’t make it a factory with hundreds of employees. Surprisingly it is handled by a very small team of three, along with the master distiller. The team of three meticulously works only on the instruction of the master distiller. HOW IT ALL STARTED James Burrough chased his career as a pharmacist, which took him to Canada. After his return, in 1862, he bought the Cale Street-based Chelsea distillery. Initially, he produced liqueurs, fruit gins and punches and established his reputation and extended the customer base. Burrough’s company stock in 1876 shows the names of Ye Old Chelsea and James Burrough London Dry and Old Tom styles. With experience and experimenting, James Burrough created a spirit with a blend of some astounding botanicals and crafted a gin that was bold and so flavourful, and he named it Beefeater. NEW BEGINNINGS FOR THE BRAND For a very long time, Beefeater stayed with the Burroughs. But in 1987, James Burrough Ltd was bought by brewery giant Whitbread and Co. The tradition of producing a world-class and iconic gin continued with the new owner. Finally, the liquor giant Pernod Ricard acquired the brand and spread its existence more to the world. THE TASTING NOTES OF BEEFEATER Just like an authentic London Dry Gin, Beefeater has a strong juniper character with noticeable citrus notes. The botanicals play a rightful part in bringing out the character that Beefeater Gin stands for, which is the authentic London Dry Gin. Nose It has a classic London Dry gin aroma, the pine forward juniper and a hint of citrus. Further, the nose will pick up notes of floral, coriander and a hint of almond. Flavour Again the Juniper and citrus flavour holds the fort. Additionally, it is sweet and spicy, with woody and floral notes coming from the botanicals like angelica and liquorice roots. Finish The finish is medium and has freshly ground coriander, lemon zest and pine-tinged juniper notes. The delicate warmth of the spirits slowly fades from the mouth. Originating in the 19th century, Beefeater London Dry Gin has an old customary lineage, but it is also a trendsetter in today’s time. With the fact that Beefeater was a result of experimenting and experience, the brand still believes in the practice and so has been introducing new labels from time to time that reflects the global trends of alcohol consumption. This celebrated gin brand is perfect for just any occasion and any form. Try it with chart-topping gin & tonic, Tom Collins or Negroni or just go with the latest off-beat trends; Beefeater will never let down a gin lover!  *Based on International Spirits Award from 2004-2019.