About this gin

Charles Tanqueray set up his distillery in Bloomsbury, London, in 1830, at the heart of the city's gin trade, and is said to have tried some 300 recipes before settling on the one still used today. It is an exercise in restraint: just four botanicals, piney juniper, peppery coriander, aromatic angelica and sweet liquorice. Production has since moved to Diageo's Cameronbridge distillery in Fife, Scotland, where the gin is made in a copper pot still known as 'Old Tom'.

That short botanical list makes for a gin that is crisp, dry and unmistakably juniper-led, with an elegant herbal taste and a soft floral finish. It is a bartender favourite because it holds its shape in mixed drinks: a sharp Tanqueray and tonic, a Martini, a Negroni or a Gimlet all show it off. If you want one reliable classic gin on the shelf, this is a strong candidate, and the green bottle with its red seal makes a smart gift.

Key facts

• Founded by Charles Tanqueray in Bloomsbury, London, in 1830; he reportedly tested around 300 recipes
• Just four botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica and liquorice
• Distilled in a copper pot still nicknamed 'Old Tom'
• The brand describes it as four times distilled

Tasting notes

Nose:

Piney juniper, peppery coriander and aromatic angelica

Palate:

Crisp and dry, rich juniper with herbal depth and a touch of liquorice sweetness

Finish:

Clean and elegant, with a floral lift

Serve

A 'T&T': Tanqueray and tonic over plenty of ice with a lime wedge. Or a classic dry Martini: 60 ml gin and 10 ml dry vermouth stirred over ice, strained, with a lemon twist or olive.

Food pairing

The dry juniper profile cuts through rich food: try it with fish kabiraji or mutton chops, or with oysters and smoked salmon.