Plymouth Navy Strength Dry Gin, 70 cl

Product Information

Now, many gin distilleries produce their own Navy Strength gin expressions and you can find ones for sale by a good majority of top-selling brands. Navy Strength Gin, robust in its flavour and history, is defined by an alcohol content of 57% ABV, a specification originating from the British Royal Navy’s practical need during the 18th century. The British sailors received a portion of their pay in gin or rum, and to ensure that their gin was not being diluted, they would test it by soaking gunpowder with it and then trying to ignite it. If it ignited, the proof was sufficiently high; 57% ABV was the minimum level that would permit this, which coined the term “navy strength”. Colorado-based Leopold Bros. distills each component of its navy strength gin separately—ranging from juniper to bergamot—thenblends them together. The result is very much an American interpretation of the style, with a piney aroma up front followed by floral and botanical flavors. The long, perfumed finish can hold its own against any tonic.

An American variant that intertwines diverse botanicals, including bergamot, to create a balanced, vibrant expression. Otherwise, there is a rum currently on the market called Pusser’s that claims to be blended to the original ED&F Man & Co. recipe. So it’s a naval rum in style, though it actually isn’t bottled at navy strength. Meanwhile, the only rum (as far as I know) currently bottled at navy strength is Smith & Cross, but it is not stylistically like naval rum. It’s a single-source rum from a particular rum estate in Jamaica, not a multi-source blend. Badachro Distillery's take on navy strength gin is a full flavoured, high strength version of Badachro Gin. Simply put, Navy Strength gin is any gin with a minimum ABV of 57%. This makes it a higher-proof spirit with a similar boozy punch to still-strength tequila or cask-strength rum and whiskey.Portobello Road also recently launched its own navy strength gin (though it is currently unavailable in the U.S.). Four Pillars, New York Distilling Co., and Colorado’s Leopold Brothers also debuted navy strength gins. To make matters more complicated, the American definition of “proof” is very different. Alcohol proof in the United States is defined as twice the percentage of alcohol by volume. Consequently, 100 degrees proof gin contains 50% alcohol. Navy Strength gin is characterised by its bold and intense flavour profile, often featuring a higher concentration of botanicals to balance the increased alcohol content. The higher ABV not only provides a more concentrated taste but also enhances the aromatic qualities of the botanicals used in the distillation process. This creates a spirit that, when properly crafted, is not just strong but also complex and delicious.

The story behind what we know today as navy strength gin began during the first ‘gin boom’ in the 18th century. It’s a classification of booze that conjures up images of sailors swapping stories on peril, providence and prurience. Of the ships they steered and the rations they held dear. Of a more thoroughbred brand of men who, let’s be honest, could drink any landlubbing swain under the table. For his Gimlets, Ford likes to shake 2 ounces of navy strength gin with 1 ounce of fresh-squeezed lime juice and three-quarters of an ounce of simple syrup.

A tale of sailors, gunpowder and really potent potables

Following its introduction to Britain during the 80 Years War of the late 16th and early 17th Century, gin became a staple for members of the Royal British Navy. Rations of booze were considered an important facet of maintaining morale on ships. However, some of the officers were suspicious of the gin, especially as the quality varied so much from city to city and felt it had been overly watered down. Technically, all gin with more than 57.15% alcohol is a navy strength gin. The reason for the high alcohol content turns out to be a very practical one. The history navy strength gin is just another chapter in the fascinating and war thorn history of gin itself. We may thank the British navy, not only for navy strength gin but for gin as we know it today.

There is no doubt that the Royal British Navy has played a key role in both the production, consumption, and prevalence of gin. The use of exotic spices in gin was made possible by imports from Africa and Asia. Gin’s prevalence around the world is due to sailors setting foot in new cities and on new continents. A collection of popular Navy Strength gins, ready to be featured in a high-proof gin and tonic. What is Navy Strength Gin?The practice of issuing alcohol rations in the navy started sometime in the 16th century. It started with beer, and sometimes vine and ended up with rum and gin. The practice of issuing alcohol rations was abolished in the Royal Navy in 1970. However, the Royal New Zealand Navy abolished the practice as late as 1990. Picture: Pixabay. For a sampling of what the Navy Strength gin category has to offer, we recommend trying Green Hat Navy Strength Gin, Perry’s Tot Navy Strength Gin, Plymouth Navy Strength Gin, Lee Spirits Navy Strength Gin and Vigilant District Navy Strength Gin. Thankfully their gin production process has not changed! They continue to produce gin over two days to allow the flavours of the botanicals to infuse the English wheat spirit used as a base. On The Nose

Every distiller has its unique method of crafting gin, and producing a Navy Strength gin allows the alcohol to retain more flavours from its infused botanicals. With a version of gin that brings forth a remarkable juniper profile while also offering resonating notes of citrus and spices, Tanqueray has cemented its place in the category.Named for Matthew Calbraith Perry, a commandant at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the 1840s, Perry’s Tot is an herbaceously robust gin. A high juniper note in the aroma is countered by a licorice-rich foundation, and an initial pop of cardamom on the palate dissolves into a lingering, softly sweet finish. Hayman’s is a family businesssteeped in 150 years of history and has had its fair share of ups and downs through global conflicts, prohibitions, and downward trends of gin. The history navy strength gin is just another chapter in the fascinating and war thorn history of gin itself. We may thank the British navy, not only for navy strength gin but for gin as we know it today.