Hayman's Royal Dock Navy Strength Gin
Hayman's · Hayman's Distillery
Navy strength gins were originally proofed to ensure gunpowder would still ignite if rum rations spilled on it — a practical origin that yields an expressive spirit. Hayman's Royal Dock is a textbook example of how higher ABV amplifies botanical clarity. In cocktails, it refuses to be diluted into anonymity.
Nose
Assertive juniper leads, piney and resinous, followed by a burst of coriander seed and citrus peel. Angelica root provides an earthy anchor. There's warmth and a faint peppery quality at the edges.
Palate
Bold and structured, with juniper maintaining its grip while cassia bark and nutmeg add spice. The higher proof carries the botanicals with intensity rather than heat. Lemon zest and a fleeting floral sweetness round the experience.
Finish
Clean and long, with lingering juniper and a dry, spicy close.
- Style
- Navy Strength London Dry
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, angelica root, cassia bark, lemon peel, orange peel, orris root, nutmeg, cinnamon
- Base Spirit
- English wheat grain neutral spirit
- Distillation
- One-shot distillation in copper pot stills
Cocktail Suggestion
Navy Gimlet — 2 oz Hayman's Royal Dock · 0.75 oz fresh lime juice · 0.5 oz rich simple syrup · Shake with ice, double strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lime wheel.
Food Pairing
Oysters on the half shell with mignonette
The Hayman family has been distilling gin in England since 1863, and their Royal Dock bottling pays tribute to the naval tradition of storing high-proof gin in the Deptford dockyards — where the proof kept the spirit stable on long ocean voyages.
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