Beefeater 24 London Dry Gin, 70 cl

Product Information

DESMOND PAYNE: About as long as a piece of string. Beefeater 24 took me the best part of 18 months but I learned a lot during that process. First of all, you need to get inspiration from what can be done differently, especially in the use of new botanicals. Aroma: Strikingly similar to Beefeater Gin. Citrus, juniper and the slightest hint of licorice root beneath it. 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. It’s hard to pinpoint which variety of tea is there, even though with time Earl Grey tea seems to stand out. Needless to say, the scent beautifully fits this gin’s London theme, transcending reminiscences of afternoon tea and British flair.

Towards the finish, an ever so gentle floral touch creeps in. I’m reminded of violet, chamomile, as well as rose petals. All in all, it’s a mellow, sweet, and well-rounded sensation, maybe even too well-balanced for real gin geeks. The 24 is not overly complex, not overly intense, but encompassed in an all-around smooth and very creamy scenery. The citrus is a bit more bright and at the fore. Seville Orange zest lends Beefeater 24 a note that reminds me of Chase’s Seville Orange Gin.Recently, after 150 years, the famous distillery opened its doors to the public, inviting visitors to take a tour to learn about the history, distilling process, and take a glimpse at the original stills. By booking a tour online or using a London pass, tourists can indulge in an interactive experience at the distillery.

DESMOND PAYNE: I started in the wine trade, I first worked in the cellars at Harrods learning from the bottom up. I applied for a job with Seager, Evans & Co. who were wine shippers, but who also had a gin distillery at Deptford in South East London. I enjoyed a selection of Petit Fours, underlining the creaminess, sweetness, in particular, the white chocolate and marzipan note coming through. 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. Sencha is the most popular type of tea in Japan, renowned for its vegetal and grassy flavor. Chinese green tea is sweeter and a bit brighter.

My Account

DESMOND PAYNE: It depends on my mood. Gin and tonic is a marriage made in heaven, but I am fond of a well-made Beefeater martini, and I have been known to sip a Negroni or two. Earlier this year we celebrated the international finals of the Beefeater MIXLDN global bartender competition. Beefeater 24 gets its name from the twenty-four hour maceration time that its twelve botanicals undergo. While many of the botanicals are familiar to Beefeater drinkers, the two tea botanicals set it apart. 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.

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. It’s no secret that Beefeater is London’s best gin. Beefeater’s name origin refers to the Yeomen of the Guard, bodyguards of the British monarchy. To craft its signature London dry gin, Beefeater uses its original recipe of nine botanicals: juniper, angelica root, angelica seeds, coriander seeds, licorice, almonds, orris root, Seville oranges, and lemon peel. 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. DESMOND PAYNE: Eight gins in the past nine years – and none in the previous forty! That indicates the popularity of gin today.DESMOND PAYNE: Well, there are always new concepts and ideas in my mind. I haven’t finished yet, that’s for sure! Flavor: Beefeater 24 is quite pleasant with sweet citrus, including notes of lemon rind and sweet lime— that moves into a mid-palate with juniper. Though less juniper-forward, the juniper is still here and remains the gin’s centerpiece. The sheer mixture of flavours and aromas from the botanicals captivated me. There seemed such a wider range than appeared in wine.