Whitley Neill Original London Dry Gin
Whitley Neill · Whitley Neill Distillery (City of London Distillery)
Whitley Neill built this gin around two African botanicals — baobab and Cape gooseberry — alongside a classic London Dry backbone. The result is a gin that reads as traditional on the surface but has a rounder, more textured mid-palate than expected. The blend of twelve botanicals works because each earns its place in the ratio.
Nose
Juniper and citrus peel lead, with coriander seed warmth and a floral, almost violet-like softness. Underneath sits a trace of cassia bark and earthy angelica root.
Palate
The juniper is front-loaded but quickly makes room for sweet lemon peel, a peppery bite, and a baobab-driven creaminess that distinguishes this from standard London Drys. Mid-palate delivers subtle ginger warmth.
Finish
Medium, drying on juniper and cassia with a lingering lemon brightness.
- Style
- London Dry
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, cassia bark, angelica root, lemon peel, orange peel, orris root, liquorice, baobab fruit, Cape gooseberry, and others
- Base Spirit
- Grain neutral spirit
- Distillation
- Pot distilled in a copper still
Cocktail Suggestion
African Sunset G&T — 2 oz Whitley Neill Original · 4 oz premium tonic water · Build over ice in a Copa glass, garnish with a slice of pink grapefruit and a sprig of rosemary.
Food Pairing
Lemon-herb roasted chicken with grilled asparagus
Created by Johnny Neill, an eighth-generation descendant of the Greenall's distilling dynasty, Whitley Neill incorporates African botanicals discovered during his travels to honor his wife's South African heritage.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Hayman's Royal Dock Navy Strength Gin
Hayman's
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.
Ron Diplomático Mantuano
Diplomático
Diplomático's Mantuano is often overshadowed by its Reserva Exclusiva sibling, but it stands on its own as a well-crafted daily sipper. The Venezuelan tropical climate accelerates the angel's share and concentrates flavors. At its price point, it punches well into cocktail territory while remaining pleasant neat.
Heaven Hill Bottled-in-Bond 7 Year Old
Heaven Hill
Heaven Hill's bonded expression punches well above its price. The seven years in Bardstown's climate-stressed rickhouses push real complexity into the wood interaction. This is a workhorse bourbon with a scholar's depth.
El Tesoro Añejo
El Tesoro
El Tesoro's tahona-crushed, oven-roasted production methods are traditional to the bone, and the two-year rest in ex-bourbon barrels at altitude in Arandas lets the highland terroir breathe through. This is añejo tequila that respects the agave rather than burying it under oak.
Hayman's Royal Dock Navy Strength Gin
Hayman's
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.
Nordés Atlantic Galician Gin
Nordés
Nordés upends London Dry expectations by leading with Galician florals and Atlantic botanicals rather than juniper. Its Albariño grape base spirit lends a vinous roundness that sets it apart. Best explored in a simple gin and tonic with a grapefruit twist to let the terroir sing.
Hernö Old Tom Gin
Hernö
Hernö's Old Tom bridges the gap between dry and sweet with the precision of a watchmaker. Jon Hillgren's commitment to organic botanicals and small-batch copper-pot distillation results in a gin that feels both historical and thoroughly modern. Outstanding in a Martinez or simply on its own.
Perfume Trees Gin
Perfume Trees
Named for the Aglaia trees that once blanketed Hong Kong's hillsides, Perfume Trees Gin channels East Asian botanicals through an unmistakably London Dry framework. The result is precise, aromatic, and deeply refreshing. It bridges traditions without losing identity.