The 8 Distinctive Style of Gin

Gin has long been misunderstood. Ask ten people what they think of it, and half will tell you it tastes like a Christmas tree. But that’s only scratching the surface. While juniper is a required element, it’s just the beginning of what gin can be. With endless combinations of herbs, roots, spices, and citrus, gin is one of the most diverse and expressive spirits behind the bar. Whether you’re a seasoned cocktail lover or someone who’s always written gin off as “not for me,” this guide might just change your mind.

Gin: A Storied History

Interesting facts about Gin, it was originally used as a medicinal elixir back in the 17th century. It was believed to have actual healing properties for such ailments as stomach disorders, gout and kidney problems. The word Gin stems from the Dutch word Genever. Genever was/is a Dutch spirit distilled from juniper berries. Genever or the Latin, Jenever translates to “juniper” in English. So, Gin is just the abbreviation of Genever.

Gin, at its base level, is a distilled spirit made from water, a neutral grain such as barley, wheat, rye or corn and most importantly juniper berries. While the type of grain used does affect the flavor profile subtly. The mandatory use of juniper berries in Gin is what gives it that distinctive characteristic of piney flavor.

There are some discrepancies about how many different types of Gin are out there available at your local liquor stores and bars, but for all intents and purposes I think we can narrow it down to 8 distinctive types of Gin. London Dry Gin, Plymouth Gin, Navy Strength Gin, Old Tom Gin, Pink Gin, Flavored Gin also called New Western, Aged Gin and Sloe Gin.

About Each Style

London Dry Gin 

Probably the most popular and well-known style of Gin. Think of Tanqueray, Beefeater and Bombay, also what you would probably get if you ordered a nonspecific Gin & Tonic at the bar. As you can imagine, London Dry Gin originates in London, but does not necessarily have to be made there. London Dry Gins have a very juniper forward flavor profile due to the strict production regulations that say it must be distilled to a high level of purity and using only natural botanicals. No artificial flavors or sweeteners can be added after distillation.

Plymouth Gin

The only Gin with a Protected Geographical Indication or PGI status. Meaning that, at least one stage of the production, processing or preparation of that product must occur within the designated geographic region. Currently there is only one brand producing Plymouth Gin, aptly named Plymouth and it is distilled in the Black Friers Distillery in Plymouth, England, since 1793. Plymouth Gin has a softer juniper palate than your typical London Dry Gin and is described as having an earthy flavor profile with sweet and citrusy notes.

Navy Strength Gin

A high proof Gin, coming in at a minimum of 57% ABV, whereas most other Gins usually come in around 40% ABV. Navy Strength Gin was historically produced and used for the British Royal Navy. It would be kept on ships and stored below deck in and around gunpowder kegs. The reason for the higher ABV was to ensure that if the barrels of Gin were to leak and get mixed with the gunpowder, the gunpowder would still have the ability to “fire”. Navy Strength Gin is typically juniper forward, or piney, with lots of spice notes, think cardamom, coriander and black pepper. It often has good citrusy notes as well as underlying floral and herbal touches. My personal favorite, to sip neat and to cocktail with. Good expressions of Navy strength Gin are Four Pillars Navy Strength out of Australia, Cannonball Navy Strength from Scotland and Conniption Navy Strength from Durham Distillery in North Carolina.

Old Tom Gin

Gets its name from the cat or tomcat – shaped wooden plaques that used to be out in front of the old British Gin houses to let folks know where Gin could be purchased. Old Tom Gin is genuinely known for its sweeter flavor due to it often being flavored with sugar or honey in its production. These days it is more typically sweetened with licorice. Old Tom Gin does not have to be aged, but it is sometimes done so in oak after distillation. Sweetness aside, juniper is still the prominent flavor, often with heavy citrus notes like orange and lemon zest and softer spice of cinnamon, nutmeg and coriander. Good examples of Old Tom Gins would be, Hayman’s of London’s Old Tom Gin, Aviation out of Oregon  makes a good Old Tom style Gin that is aged in whiskey barrels for 1 year (recommended), also from Oregon is Ransom Spirits, they have a very unique expression of Old Tom Gin, in its grain bill and use of all organic botanicals they then age it in French wine oak barrels for 6-12 months.

Pink Gin

More of a subset of other Gin types but experts give it a category or style all its own, much like Rose in the wine world. Pink Gin gets its name from its obvious pink hue that comes from taking a typical style of Gin, like London Dry or Plymouth and infusing it with fruits and/or botanicals such as strawberries, cherries, rhubarb, pink grapefruit and in some cases rose pedals. Pink Gins are typically sweeter and fruitier than other gins, also less dry on average. I personally don’t have much experience with Pink Gins but some good examples to try are Beefeater Pink Strawberry, Glendalough Rose from Ireland and Akori Cherry Blossom Gin out of Spain (cherry, ginger, kumquat and dragon fruit).

Aged Gin

Also called Barrel Rested Gin is simply Gin that has been matured in oak barrels, often barrels that once contained some type of whiskey, Scotch or Bourbon is typically what you’ll find. Barrel aging Gin lends the Gin to smoother more complex flavor profile. It provides a blend of notes to include caramel, vanilla and oak, all steeped alongside the typical juniper and botanical notes that are Gin. Some great examples of Aged Gin would be Conniption Barrel Rested out of North Carolina, Citadelle Gin Reserva from France matured in a myriad of different casks then married together to create a unique barrel aged expression and something newly added to my radar is St Georges Dry Rye Reposado Aged Gin, a rye-based gin aged for 18 months in French oak wine casks.

Flavored Gin

Can be referred to as New Western Gin or New Wave Gin. Simply put Flavored Gins are Gins that highlight other spices, fruits and/or botanicals besides juniper. Either through flavoring or infusing, additional flavor is added to Gin post distillation. There is a vast array of flavors that can be added to include, citrus, floral, berry, spices and vegetal. I don’t typically gravitate towards Flavored spirits but some key players in Flavored Gin are Hendricks and Beefeater and one that I can personally sign off on is Four Pillars Bloody Shiraz Gin from Australia, a good, spiced Gin steeped and pressed over Shiraz grapes… It is Incredible!

Sloe Gin

Take a traditionally distilled style Gin with juniper, citrus, botanicals and spice, then steep that base spirit with sloe berries and sugar. Sloe berries are a tart, highly astringent fruit, think tart cherry, berry and sharp, slightly bitter plum flavor. Sloe berries are in the plum family and kind of look like a miniature version of the fruit. Although Sloe Gin starts off as Gin, after the addition of plentiful amounts of sugar and sloe berries, its ABV drops to anywhere from 15%-30% which technically classifies it as a liqueur. Some of the top Sloe Gins on the market are Plymouth Sloe Gin, still using a recipe that dates all the way back to 1883. Haymans of London Sloe Gin is described to have “incredible balance” that hits between tart and sweet, warming yet bright with a strong spice finish. Ford’s Sloe Gin recently released in 2022 comes in at a higher ABV of 29% which gives it a good balance of plum, cherry and raisin from the sloe berries while still having that sharp crispness of citrus and juniper from the Gin.

I think the takeaway from all this is that there are many options out there to explore, beyond your traditional “piney” London Dry style Gin. Depending on what you are using Gin for, whether it’s Gin & Tonics, dry martinis, neat, on the rocks or cocktailing (balancing against other ingredients), there are literally hundreds maybe thousands of varieties to investigate. So, to the guest that sits at my bar and says, “I don’t like Gin”, I say, well maybe you just haven’t tried the right style of Gin. At The Establishment, we carry an array of different styles of Gin as well as fully composed, Gin based, craft cocktails, some of which are award winning. I would like to personally invite you, on your next visit to The Establishment, stop by the bar and let us explore together the wonderful world of Gin.

Ryan Wise
Bar Manager – The Establishment