The name comes from a family in Westmorland, the water from a spring at Cartmel in the Lake District, and the distilling happens in London. Gilpins gathers three corners of England into one bottle and bottles the result dry and taut. Here in 3 cl, so the style can be met without opening a full bottle.
The expert's description
Sample 3 cl Gilpins Premium Extra London Dry Gin 47% is an English London Dry Gin distilled in pot stills from eight botanicals and bottled at 47%.
The gin was launched in 2011 by Matthew Gilpin, drawing on his family's roots in Westmorland in the north west of England. Distillation itself takes place at Thames Distillery in London, while spring water from Cartmel in the Lake District brings the strength down before bottling.
Eight botanicals carry the recipe. Juniper leads, as the style demands, but sage and borage are what give Gilpins its own signature. Sage lays down a dry, almost dusty herbal note, and borage pulls towards something green and cool. Lime and bitter orange supply the citrus. The 47% is chosen so that none of it disappears once tonic hits the glass.
London Dry Gin says nothing about geography and everything about method: every botanical goes in during distillation, and nothing may be sweetened or coloured afterwards. Gilpins meets both conditions and happens to be distilled in London as well. This 3 cl bottling exists so you can form an impression first.
Tasting notes
Nose
Juniper straight away, dry and resinous, followed by lime peel and coriander seed. Sage sits behind it as a dry herbal tone and makes the aroma read more garden than fruit bowl.
Palate
Dry and faintly oily across the tongue. Juniper takes up plenty of room, bitter orange cuts a sharp edge, and sage and borage fill the middle with something green. The strength registers as warmth rather than bite.
Finish
Long and dry, with bitter angelica root and a peppery flick. Citrus rings out last and leaves the mouth clean.
Specifications
Name: Sample 3 cl Gilpins Premium Extra London Dry Gin 47%
Distillery: Gilpins
Region/Country: England
Type: London Dry Gin
ABV: 47%
Size: 3 CL
Botanicals: Juniper, sage, borage, lime and bitter orange
Distillation method: Pot still distilled
Serving suggestion: With a neutral Tonic Water and a strip of lime peel
Flavour profile
Dry · Juniper · Herbal · Citrus · Spiced
Did you know?
Borage is known as starflower after its sharp blue petals, and it has spent centuries in English summer cups alongside cucumber and mint. That same herb is what gives Gilpins its cool green breath behind the juniper.
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