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.
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