London Dry gin
London Dry gin style is a quality designation for a specific gin variety in which all the flavors have to be natural and added through distillation. This gin is also distilled from a neutral base spirit that is enriched with various botanicals.
Juniper berries are indispensable for most London dry examples, while other additions usually include citrus peel, angelica root, and coriander seeds. Most traditional gin varieties falling in this category will have dominant juniper flavor as well as herbaceous and citrus notes, though several modern interpretations step away from the conventional approach.
London Dry style was introduced after the invention of continuous column stills (Coffey stills), which could distill clean spirits that could reach 96% ABV. Prior to that, most gin styles were crude and harsh, and producers often had to add sweeteners and flavorings to make it more palatable. Read more
When the designation first appeared, most examples were labeled simply as dry gin, but because most gin production was concentrated in London, it often included the additional London label. Despite its name, London dry gin has no geographical restriction, and it can be produced anywhere in the world.
Additional guidelines stipulate that it can be mixed with water to achieve the minimum strength of 37.5% ABV. It can contain minimal amount of sweeteners, but flavorings or color cannot be added after distillation.
Best London Dry gin
