London’s love affair with gin spans centuries and with a surge of stylish distillery openings in recent times, there’s no end in sight. But where does one discover the truly extraordinary concoctions?
We all want the kind of gin that would make us hit the brakes after the first sip. And then, recognise that what’s in our glass is nothing short of liquid perfection – almost too good for the average palate.
But, fret not! We’re here to embark on a journey to uncover the crème de la crème of gin experiences in London. So, let the spirited swing begin!
City of London Distillery
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Location: 22-24 Bride Ln, London EC4Y 8DT, United Kingdom
Contact: You may contact them here
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 4:00 PM to 10:00 PM
- Saturday – 2:00 PM to 10:00 PM
Ever since launching its flagship gin in 2012, the City of London Distillery has been on a relentless quest for gin perfection by expanding its repertoire to six delectable tipples. Some of their best-sellers are the Dry Gin and the Square Mile.
If you’re craving a firsthand gin odyssey, their famed City of London gin distillery tour is the golden ticket. Picture this: a behind-the-scenes glimpse into the gin-making magic that’s coupled with a tasting trio of their finest creations.
And if you’re feeling like a gin virtuoso, they’ve got a “design your own gin” lab experience that’s just not good, but also downright brilliant – trust us, we’ve tried it (and we want more!).
Half Hitch London
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Location: Unit 53, West Yard, Camden Lock Pl, London NW1 8AF, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3096 3027
Opening hours:
- Monday to Sunday – 11:00 AM to 5:00 PM
This small-batch distillery uses only the best ingredients like juniper berries from Italy and fresh citrus from Spain to craft their award-winning spirits.
However, the real magic happens behind the curtain with Marjorie, their distinct copper pot still and guardian of tradition. They use this pot to infuse each other pot with a nod to the past, crafting history in liquid form.
The distillery also offers special limited releases like their Navy Strength gin as well as tours and tastings. With their focus on quality over quantity and passion for the craft, Half Hitch exemplifies the outstanding gin producers carrying on London’s long tradition.
East London Liquor
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Location: Bow Wharf, Unit GF1, 221 Grove Rd., Old Ford, London E3 5SN, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3011 0980
Founded in 2010 by Noel Ridley and Joel Harrison, East London Liquor operates in small scale out of a tiny distillery in Bow Wharf. One of their signatures is that they do the entire gin-making process in-house, from infusing botanicals to bottling.
For their flagship London Dry Gin, they use a blend of traditional botanicals along with some unique ingredients like grapefruit peel and bay leaf. The result is a crisp and balanced gin that has won multiple awards at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition.
They are also known for their innovative limited-release flavours like Marmalade, made using Seville oranges and lemon peel.
Beefeater Gin
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Location: 20 Montford Pl, London SE11 5DE, United Kingdom
Contact: [email protected]
Opening hours:
- Wednesday to Sunday – 11:00 AM to 7:00 PM
Beefeater has been crafting high-quality spirits since 1863. Its iconic bottle and Yeoman Warder logo pay homage to the London Tower, where the ceremonial guards are nicknamed “Beefeaters”.
The secret to Beefeater’s complex yet balanced flavour profile lies in its distillation process and blend of 9 botanicals. Unlike many distilleries, Beefeater uses a unique cold extraction method to capture the delicate aromas and flavours of Seville oranges, lemon peel and liquorice root.
Mother’s Ruin
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Location: Ravenswood Industrial Estate, 18, London E17 9HQ, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 7748 635150
Opening hours:
- Friday – 5:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Saturday – 12:00 PM to 11:30 PM
- Sunday – 1:00 PM to 8:00 PM
This plucky upstart is shaking up London’s gin scene from its gritty underground lair in Hackney Wick. The name cheekily nods to Gin’s 18th-century nickname when it was blamed for leaving mothers destitute, as men spent fortunes on the spirit.
Today, Mother’s Ruin crafts premium small-batch gin with a rock-and-roll attitude. Head distiller and co-founder Rebecca Pitt breaks from tradition by blending exotic botanicals like baobab fruit and butterfly-pea flowers.
With punk rock flair and delicious gins made in 600-litre custom stills, Mother’s Ruin brings a brash, modern vibe to London’s distilling tradition.
Sipsmith
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Location: 83 Cranbrook Rd, Chiswick, London W4 2LJ, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8747 0753
Opening hours:
- Monday to Thursday – 9:00 AM to 6:00 PM
- Friday – 9:00 AM to 4:00 PM
This trailblazing craft distiller brought London dry gin back to the city when it opened in 2009 after nearly 200 years of absence of gin production.
Distilling in a traditional copper still affectionately called “Prudence”, Sipsmith creates quality spirits showcasing juniper and dry botanicals. They even use one-shot distillation rather than the cheaper continuous process, retaining flavour subtleties.
With a focus on craftsmanship over mass production, Sipsmith spearheaded the London Gin Renaissance by bringing distilling back to the city through their passion for the artisanal spirit.
Graveney Gin
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Location: Unit 22a, Tooting Market, 21-23 Tooting High St, London SW17 0SN, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 7908 952216
Opening hours:
- Thursday – 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
- Wednesday to Saturday- 5:00 PM to 11:00 PM
Graveney Gin isn’t churning out mass quantities, instead, each 30-bottle batch is meticulously crafted by founder Victoria Christie in a small still. This hands-on approach allows for close attention to detail with a focus on quality.
Now, here’s the cherry on top: the Gin Tasting for Two! For only £80, you and your friend will have an immersive experience that also tantalises your taste buds and expands your gin knowledge.
Both of you can even treat the gin tasting as your pre-game, and then head to one of the best bars in London and dance the night away.
Portobello Road Gin
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Location: 186 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LA, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3034 2233
Opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 10:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Unlike many distillers, Portobello Road Gin starts with a neutral wheat spirit rather than the typical barley. This allows the flavours of the botanicals to shine through. They use methods like manually grinding spices and copper pot distilling.
Once distilled, the gin is left to rest in their warehouse right on Portobello Road. A stop here is a must since experts will walk you through their award-winning gins while regaling you with tales of the area’s history.
Jensen’s Gin
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Location: 55 Stanworth St, London SE1 3NY, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 7237 1500
Opening hours:
- Monday to Friday – 10:00 AM to 5:00 PM
- Saturday – 11:00 AM to 6:00 PM
Jensen’s Gin recreates forgotten 19th-century London Dry Gin recipes, giving you a taste of the spirit’s golden age. Think Dickens sipping on something smooth and sharp, not cucumber-infused craziness.
Forget industrial-sized vats. Jensen simmers their gin in a copper pot still named “Bertha”, lovingly tended to by a handful of gin whisperers!
The Ginstitute
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Location: 186 Portobello Rd, London W11 1LA, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 3034 2234
Unlike traditional distilleries, The Ginstitute empowers you to become an artist. You can choose from over 100 botanicals, experiment with their unique copper still, and personalise your spirit’s flavour profile.
Dive deeper into the world of gin with their themed tastings. Explore “London’s Gin History” through iconic spirits, or embark on a botanical adventure like “Spice Voyage” or “Floral Fantasy”.
Ginema at Hayman’s Distillery
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Location: 8A Weir Rd, London SW12 0GT, United Kingdom
Contact: +44 20 8673 0485
Opening hours:
- Monday to Saturday – 12:00 PM to 5:30 PM
Having weathered the ups and downs of gin’s popularity, Hayman’s boasts a 150-year legacy. Ginema also embraces this heritage while injecting a modern twist.
They offer a “Gin Cinema” experience where you can settle into plush velvet seats and embark on a multi-sensory journey through the world of gin. You’ll even watch films exploring botanicals, distillation processes, and cocktail creation, all while sipping expertly curated cocktails.
