Review

Dr. J's Gin

English Spirit Company Distillery, The Old Salt Depot, Dullingham, Cambridge, Cambridgeshire, England, UK.

English Vodka Company or English Spirit Company. 

Established at the start of 2011, originally producing Vodka only, they were known as the English Vodka Company. Today, as they produce other spirits than just Vodka, the company has rebranded to the English Spirit Company. This Gin was released at the end of 2011.

Tours are available for free but by prior arrangement only. Please see their website for details.

The company makes vodka spirit from scratch and this is used as the base to make their Gin. 200-liter batches are distilled by hand in a copper pot still called “Merlin”, with the botanicals added in at two stages.

Presented in a clear squat cylindrical bottle with a large black colored label and silver/grey writing.

London Dry Gin – they cheekily refer to this as a Cambridgeshire Dry Gin, which is understandable as the first distillery in this county.

45% (90 Proof).

$$$$$. Not available in the USA, try Master of Malt in the UK but prepare to pay an additional 60 % for shipping.

The botanicals include: coriander seeds (5 different varieties), juniper berries, lemon peel, lime peel, macadamia nuts and orange peel (Seville). Plus a few other undisclosed botanicals.

We believe the owner is a Biochemist and their shortened name is Dr. J!

On the nose is clean and fresh juniper and citrus (orange) with some herbal and peppery spice notes. On the palate this slightly sweet creamy smooth spirit has juniper and tangy citrus (orange) with herbal and spice (coriander) notes. In the close the sweetness gives way to acidic dry spiciness with faint juniper and herbs in the finish.

This has a classic London Dry profile and is very refreshing due to the big citrus flavors. The English Spirit Company recommends drinking this neat (adding a few salted capers with ice) and this does work well. In a Gin & Tonic the citrus notes predominate and makes for a good summer time drink. Probably due to the fact this has been designed to drink neat, this makes a truly good Martini – it has all the right elements and flavors traditional Gin lovers will enjoy and the citrus levels makes this accessible for the less traditional drinkers too.

They do say every Gin is different and it is a maxim true for this drink too. Whilst it does not have any specific characteristics to make it stand out in the burgeoning Gin market, it is not a bland one either. It is quite possible for these reasons it could be overlooked which would be a shame given the time, effort and obvious skill that has gone into this quality Gin. If you just looked at this in isolation it would be a great everyday Martini drinkers Gin (certainly for us) but the price makes this a difficult sell, so we see and recommend this as a great summer time Martini Gin treat (one to share with good friends).

We understand it is supplied to the Queen of England but are unaware of it holding a royal warrant (yet!).