Fords Gin London Dry
Fords Gin · Thames Distillers
Fords Gin was designed by 86 Co.'s Simon Ford in collaboration with master distiller Charles Maxwell — a gin built for bartenders, by a bartender. The 45% ABV ensures the botanicals punch through dilution, and the nine-botanical recipe is deliberately balanced to work across cocktail styles. It's a lesson in restraint: nothing flashy, everything functional, quietly excellent.
Nose
A balanced bouquet of juniper and citrus opens the glass — lemon peel and grapefruit sit alongside a dry, resinous juniper core. Jasmine and orris root add a quiet floral complexity. Coriander spice weaves through without dominating.
Palate
Bright and precise with a medium weight that carries well in cocktails without losing identity when sipped neat. Juniper remains front and center, supported by angelica earthiness and a peppery warmth. The citrus notes broaden on the palate, moving from lemon to orange.
Finish
Clean and medium-length with lingering juniper and a dry, almost savory coriander close.
- Style
- London Dry
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, cassia bark, lemon peel, grapefruit peel, orange peel, jasmine
- Base Spirit
- Neutral grain spirit
- Distillation
- One-shot distillation in a 500-liter copper pot still
Cocktail Suggestion
Ford's Martini — 2 oz Fords Gin · 1 oz dry vermouth · 1 dash orange bitters · Stir over ice for 30 seconds, strain into chilled coupe, garnish with lemon twist.
Food Pairing
Smoked trout blinis with crème fraîche
Developed by spirits veteran Simon Ford and distilled by Charles Maxwell at Thames Distillers in Clapham, one of London's last remaining independent gin distilleries.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Jura
Jura 10 is an island malt that sidesteps the peat-bomb stereotype entirely. Its restraint is its strength — a whisky shaped by geography rather than process, tasting of the rain and wind that batter its remote island home. Ideal as a gateway to island Scotch.
Noah's Mill Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Noah's Mill
Noah's Mill is barrel-proof bourbon without apology. Its intensity rewards patience — a splash of water opens the caramel and softens the leather into something rich and contemplative. A serious sipper for those who want their bourbon to push back.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin
Crossbill
Crossbill is a gin that refuses to compromise on juniper. Using only Scottish juniper berries and rosehip, it delivers one of the most juniper-forward profiles available — a gin built for G&T purists and Martini devotees who want the pine to sing. It tastes like the Scottish Highlands in a glass.
Rhum Clément Select Barrel Rhum Agricole
Clément
Clément Select Barrel is an excellent entry point into aged agricole rhum. The barrel aging tames the raw grassy intensity without erasing it, creating a spirit that bridges the gap between agricole purists and aged rum lovers. At its price, it's one of the best values in the category.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin
Crossbill
Crossbill is a gin that refuses to compromise on juniper. Using only Scottish juniper berries and rosehip, it delivers one of the most juniper-forward profiles available — a gin built for G&T purists and Martini devotees who want the pine to sing. It tastes like the Scottish Highlands in a glass.
Tanqueray Lovage London Dry Gin
Tanqueray
Part of Tanqueray's limited-edition heritage series inspired by Charles Tanqueray's original recipes, Lovage brings back a Victorian-era botanical that most modern gins have forgotten. The savory character makes it a natural partner for a proper gin and tonic with a celery garnish, and a genuinely distinctive alternative to the floral gin trend.
Companero Gin by Sacred Spirits
Sacred Spirits
Sacred's vacuum distillation technique preserves the freshest expression of each botanical — no boiling, no heat degradation. The result is a gin of unusual clarity and precision. Each botanical is distinct yet integrated, making it equally suited to a contemplative neat pour or a gin and tonic that reveals new layers with every sip.
Whitley Neill Handcrafted Dry Gin
Whitley Neill
Whitley Neill's core expression is a proper London Dry that respects juniper without being one-dimensional. The interplay between African-sourced botanicals and classic gin architecture makes it versatile behind the bar and genuinely enjoyable neat. Outstanding value at the price point.