It’s hard to believe that there was a time when gin – and its signature London Dry gin style – was even more popular than it is now. Back in the late 17th Century after heavy taxations on French wine and Cognac, tax breaks were given to those working in spirits production, which resulted in a ‘Gin Craze’, as ordinary citizens began distilling their own spirits. Gin became a cheap commodity and went essentially unmoderated (with some home brews containing sawdust, turpentine, and even sulphuric acid). As a result, a distiller’s licence was brought in, as well as regulations on gin production. Fast-forward to the 1800s, and standards were raised again thanks to the arrival of the Coffey still, which led to the birth of London Dry gin, a more consistent style rich with botanical flavours.
Although the history of London Dry gin lies in England’s capital, while perusing the list below, you might notice that not all the gins featured are produced in the city. Despite its name, this style of gin doesn’t have to be made in London, and instead points to strict production rules and a juniper-forward flavour. Producers can only use natural botanicals and a neutral base alcohol of 96% ABV for distillation, and nothing should be added post-distillation other than water. Plus, the final product should have a minimum strength of 37.5%.
Gyre & Gimble topped the IWSC London Dry gin category this year, with their Nohow, which scored 95 points to earn a Gold medal. The judges were impressed by the gin’s ‘inviting warm spices on the nose’ and its ‘fresh and herbaceous palate of pine and resin’.
A slighty sweeter proposition, Haysmith’s London Dry Gin earned a Silver medal with 93 points for its ‘juicy flavours of sweet fruit’ and pine notes that ‘trickle down the gorgeously sturdy juniper backbone.’ For fans of a classic, juniper-laden gin, there’s Berry Bros & Rudd’s No. 3, which also achieved a Silver with 93 points and boasts ‘a juniper-forward nose with some hints of spice, followed by a big and robust palate of sweet citrus.’
All of the gins in this list were tasted blind by a panel of industry experts. Keep reading below for the winning London Dry gins from the IWSC 2023.
HOW DO WE JUDGE THESE SPIRITS?
We run a tightly structured, rigorous spirits tasting process. That means that each spirit sample is pre-poured into numbered glasses and assessed blindly by the judges. Most importantly, our IWSC spirit judges are experts in their field, who work across all sectors of the drinks industry. For evidence, see our full list of judges.
HOW DO WE SCORE THESE SPIRITS?
Only the best spirits sampled receive a Gold or Silver award. For example, to win Gold, spirits have to score between 95 and 100 points. Meanwhile, Silver wines range from 90 to 94 points. Click here to read more on our scoring system.
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10 top London dry gins to try
Gyre & Gimble, Nohow London Dry Gin
Aldi, Haysmith’s London Dry Gin
Berry Bros. & Rudd, No.3 London Dry Gin
