Plymouth Gin
Pernod Ricard (Plymouth Gin Distillery, est. 1793) · Blackfriars Distillery, Plymouth, Devon, England
Plymouth Gin holds one of only three geographic indications for a spirit in the UK: it can only be made in Plymouth. But the real terroir is in the water. Dartmoor’s extremely soft water creates a gin with a rounder, fuller mouthfeel than London Dry gins made with harder water — the low mineral content lets the botanicals express themselves without interference. The recipe uses only seven botanicals (compared to Monkey 47’s forty-seven), and the restraint is the point: each botanical is individually perceptible, and none dominates. This is the gin the Royal Navy chose for its officers’ daily ration, the gin that was specified in the original recipe for a Pink Gin, and the gin that appeared in the earliest known recipe for a dry martini. At 41.2% ABV, it’s slightly gentler than most gins — a conscious choice that lets the Dartmoor water’s softness come through.
Nose
Juniper, fresh coriander, earthy angelica, bright citrus peel, cardamom warmth, and a soft, round quality that distinguishes it from sharper London Dry gins.
Palate
Silky and full-bodied — piney juniper, sweet orange, gentle spice, creamy mouthfeel, and a subtle earthiness from the angelica and orris that gives the gin a rooted quality.
Finish
Clean and warming with lingering juniper, citrus oil, gentle spice, and a dry, slightly sweet fade.
- Botanicals
- Seven botanicals: juniper, coriander seed, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root, orris root, cardamom
- Base Spirit
- Wheat grain spirit
- Distillation
- Single-shot distillation in a copper pot still; Dartmoor water
Cocktail Suggestion
Cocktail — The Original Pink Gin: 2 oz Plymouth Gin · 3 dashes Angostura bitters · chilled water (optional). Coat the inside of a chilled glass with Angostura, add the gin. This is the cocktail the Royal Navy invented aboard ship — and Plymouth is the only gin that should be in it.
Food Pairing
Pair with: Fish and chips with mushy peas and malt vinegar. The definitive English pairing — Plymouth’s juniper and citrus cut through the batter’s richness, and the soft mouthfeel won’t overwhelm delicate white fish.
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