Greenall’s Original London Dry Gin
Review: Greenall’s Original London Dry Gin (85.5/100)
a review by Chip Dykstra (AKA Arctic Wolf)
Posted January 13, 2021
Greenall’s Gin is produced by Britain’s oldest distilling company, (G & J Greenall), where the spirit is produced using the same London Dry method that has been used at that distillery since 1761. According to the company website:
Greenall’s The Original London Dry Gin remains unchanged from the original recipe, closely guarded by just seven master distillers in our 250-year history. Today we continue to build on this classic, award winning recipe as we create new and original gins, just as our founder did all those years ago.
And build on it they have, and G and J Greenall are not only the oldest distilling company in Britain, they also produce almost 70 % of the gin and vodka in the UK acting as a third party distiller for many other brand owners.
Greenall’s Original London Dry Gin is a tradition dry gin with juniper at the heart of its botanical mix. Other botanicals are said to include coriander, lemon peel, cassia bark and ground almond. However it is also said that Greenall’s zealously guards is recipe so the entire list is known to only a few trusted souls.
The juniper spirit is sold at 40 % alcohol by volume in Alberta, I note that in some markets the gin is sold at 37.5 % alcohol by volume.
In the Bottle 3.5/5
My sample bottle of Greenall’s Original London Dry Gin is shown to the left. Frankly it’s an unexciting bottle and label that wouldn’t inspire me to select the brand if I was shopping in a well stocked liquor store. From the bottom shelf metallic cap the isn’t centered properly which seals the gin, to the uninspiring label, to the fact that it is sold below the regular bottling proof of 40 % abv. in some markets. Everything about what I see leaves me with the impression the spirit not exciting.
It is a pity that the spirit with as much history and tradition as this seems to be resigned to being miscast by its brand owners. Let’s hope the gin is much better than the presentation.
In the Glass 8.5/10
Colour: Clear
Nose: A classic dry gin with juniper, citrus zest, soft licorice and hints of spicy coriander. The impression I get is that everything has been tempered so that no particular botanical is highlighted (except perhaps the juniper). Although the profile is classic, it is sort of a tempered classic.
In The Mouth 52/60
Greenall’s is an easy going dry gin. A soft juniper dominates the palate with somewhat heightened citrus zest brightening the flavour profile. We taste a very mild licorice underneath and perhaps an influence of angelica giving the spirit a touch of earthiness. A touch of spicy coriander is there as well as indistinct impressions of ginger, cinnamon and cardamom. The flavour profile lends itself to gimlets and gin and tonics, however, I would suggest this is a gin which some might prefer to sip over ice.
In The Throat 13/15
The finish features soft juniper and light licorice flavours accented by a light bitterness. Before the bitterness can become cloying, a mild sweetness catches up giving the gin a soft landing. Some coriander spiciness promises to help lengthen those gimlets I mentioned earlier.
The Afterburn 8.5/10
Greenall’s is not a complicated gin. The flavour profile is that of a classic dry gin with perhaps the roughness of juniper and citrus zest dampened to make the spirit more approachable. Some hardened gin enthusiasts make was a firmer presence of juniper, but most will find Greenall’s Original Dry Gin more than acceptable.
You may read some of my other Gin Reviews (click the link) if you wish to have some comparative reviews.
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Suggested Recipe
The Gimlet
2 oz Greenall’s Dry Gin
3/4 oz Fresh Lime Juice
1/2 oz Sugar Syrup (1:1 Ratio)
Ice
Lime Slice for garnish
Add the three main ingredients into a metal shaker with ice
Shake until the outside of the shaker begins to frost
Double strain into a Cocktail Glass
Float a Lime Slice on top
Enjoy
If you are interested in more of my cocktail recipes, please click this link (Cocktails and Recipes) for more of my mixed drink recipes!
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My Final Score is out of 100 and you may (loosely) interpret that score as follows:
0-25 A spirit with a rating this low would actually kill you.
26-49 Depending upon your fortitude you might actually survive this.
50 -59 You are safe to drink this…but you shouldn’t.
60-69 Substandard swill which you may offer to people you do not want to see again.
70-74 Now we have a fair mixing spirit. Accept this but make sure it is mixed into a cocktail.
75-79 You may begin to serve this to friends, again probably still cocktail territory.
80-84 We begin to enjoy this spirit neat or on the rocks. (I will still primarily mix cocktails)
85-89 Excellent for sipping or for mixing!
90-94 Definitely a primary sipping spirit, in fact you may want to hoard this for yourself.
95-97.5 The Cream of the Crop
98+ I haven’t met this bottle yet…but I want to.
Very loosely we may put my scores into terms that you may be familiar with on a Gold, Silver, and Bronze medal scale as follows:
70 – 79.5 Bronze Medal (Recommended only as a mixer)
80 – 89.5 Silver Medal (Recommended for sipping and or a high quality mixer)
90 – 95 Gold Medal (Highly recommended for sipping and for sublime cocktails.)
95.5+ Platinum Award (Highest Recommendation)
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