Three friends, a lukewarm gin and tonic in a bar, and a decision to do better. That is where Martin Miller's starts. The spirit is distilled in England and shipped to Iceland, where it meets spring water filtered through lava. Here in 3 cl, so the stronger release can be tasted without opening a full bottle.
The expert's description
Sample 3 cl Martin Millers Westbourne Strength Premium London Dry Gin 45.2% is a London Dry Gin made through two separate distillations of juniper, coriander, angelica, orris root, liquorice, cassia, nutmeg, cinnamon, cucumber, lemon and orange, and bottled at 45.2%.
Martin Miller's was founded in 1999 by Martin Miller, David Bromige and Andreas Versteegh. The idea came out of a disappointing gin and tonic, and the brief was to build the finest gin they could, however awkward that turned out to be. The brand became one of the earliest voices in the wave of premium gin that has since reshaped the whole category.
Westbourne Strength arrived in 2003. Bartenders had asked for a version with more muscle, a gin that would not vanish behind ice, tonic and citrus in a tall glass, and the answer was a bottling at 45.2%.
The technical trick sits in the distillation. Citrus peels run on their own with the heat kept low, while the heavier, earthier botanicals such as angelica, orris root and liquorice get harder treatment in a separate run. The two distillates are married afterwards. It costs time, but it keeps the bright peel notes alive instead of boiling them away.
Finally the spirit travels to Iceland and is cut with spring water from there. That water is very soft, having passed through lava and picked up almost no minerals, and it explains a good part of the rounded mouthfeel. Cucumber lays a cool layer over the juniper and has become the house signature.
Tasting notes
Nose
Juniper straight away, dry and pine-like. A layer of lemon and orange peel follows, and underneath sits something cool and green from the cucumber alongside a trace of nutmeg.
Palate
Strong and dry, yet without sharp edges. Juniper leads, citrus peel cuts through, and coriander and nutmeg lay in a peppery warmth halfway across. Liquorice supplies the floor, and the cucumber cools everything down again.
Finish
Long and dry. Juniper and cinnamon hang on while the citrus slowly withdraws. Right at the end a cool, green note is left sitting on the tongue.
Specifications
Name: Sample 3 cl Martin Millers Westbourne Strength Premium London Dry Gin 45.2%
Producer: Martin Miller's
Region/Country: England
Type: London Dry Gin
ABV: 45.2%
Size: 3 CL
Botanicals: Juniper, coriander, angelica, orris root, liquorice, cassia, nutmeg, cinnamon, cucumber, lemon and orange
Distillation method: Two separate distillations, citrus peel on its own and the remaining botanicals apart from it
Serving suggestion: With Tonic Water, plenty of ice and a thin slice of cucumber
Flavour profile
Juniper-forward · Citrus · Spiced · Cool · Dry
Did you know?
Martin Miller had an entirely different life before the gin. He was the man behind Miller's Antiques Price Guide, the reference work antique dealers around the world reached for, and he ran a hotel in London long before juniper caught his attention.
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