Plymouth Navy Strength Dry Gin, 70 cl

Product Information

We recommend Badachro's Storm Strength Gin sipped over ice or to make a classic G&T using a premium tonic water, lots of ice and a slice of lime. If available, a sprig of wild myrtle tops it off amazingly well. The infamous gunpowder test was the benchmark for determining the strength of the gin. A sample of the spirit was mixed with gunpowder and ignited. If the mixture ignited and maintained a steady blue flame, it was deemed "proof" that the spirit was at least 57.15% alcohol by volume – the minimum strength required to ensure the alcohol hadn't been watered down. This strength became the standard for Navy-issue spirits. The Spirit of Hvenstarted in 2008 between the shores of Denmark and Sweden on a small island called Hven. Its humble beginnings as one of the world’s smallest distilleries. Named for Matthew Calbraith Perry, a commandant at the Brooklyn Navy Yard in the 1840s, Perry’s Tot is an herbaceously robust gin. A high juniper note in the aroma is countered by a licorice-rich foundation, and an initial pop of cardamom on the palate dissolves into a lingering, softly sweet finish. The Organic Navy Strength Gin is skillfully distilled in copper pot stills. Lavender, chamomile, and elderflower are also placed in botanical baskets then the distillate rests until pH levels stabilize. On The Nose

From 1784 until 1970 — nearly the entire duration of the rum ration — a spirits merchant called ED&F Man & Co. held the exclusive contract to supply the Navy with rum. The product they supplied was blended according to a recipe which unfortunately has never been revealed to the public, but it certainly included some traditional, heavy, pot-distilled rums from Guyana, Jamaica and Trinidad [Ed. note: predictably, three British colonial possessions in the Caribbean] as well as some lighter rum to make it more drinkable. It was probably aged, though I’d guess for not more than a few years, and was colored very dark with caramel.

Plymouth Gin

Following its introduction to Britain during the 80 Years War of the late 16th and early 17th Century, gin became a staple for members of the Royal British Navy. Rations of booze were considered an important facet of maintaining morale on ships.

The actual term Navy Strength didn’t start being officially used until the 1990’s, originating as a marketing tactic to sell high-proof gin. Their two-step infusion of botanicals, such as Indian coriander, caraway, rosemary, and cardamom, are added with the rich flavours of juniper and cassia, all vapour infused in the German copper pot.

Welcome to the Borders Distillery

Most navy strength gins can be used in both in a Gin & Tonic, and in a Dry Martini. The higher alcohol content will make for a stronger Dry Martini. In a Gin & Tonic, the alcohol is more masked, but you should be prepared to use a bit more tonic then you would use with a standard gin. Start by using the same amount of tonic that you would normally do. (I would recommend 1:2 between the gin and the tonic.) Play around until you reach the desired taste.

Durham Distilleryis proud to say that their Navy Strength Gin has raked in the award as best navy strength gin for four years running, voted by the World Gin Awards.The Royal Navy legislated that there had to be a certain amount of gin on each vessel while they were sailing on the high seas. Gin was required on board to help fight illness and diseases which were rife. Purity’s goal is to be organicand understand that perfection is a slow process that rewards you with an outstanding product. They use organic Swedish wheat and malted barley for their spirit base. Although the production of Navy Strength Gin aligns with standard gin production practices — starting with a neutral grain spirit and incorporating botanicals through infusion or vapour infusion during redistillation - the elevated ABV results in a bolder flavour profile. Notable botanicals might include juniper, coriander, citrus peels, angelica, and orris root. The history navy strength gin is just another chapter in the fascinating and war thorn history of gin itself. We may thank the British navy, not only for navy strength gin but for gin as we know it today.