Investigating gins I've not sampled before, this one is an economical choice heavily promoted at Total Wine. Let's find out what it's like. I tasted it neat from a copita, side-by-side with Beefeater as the benchmark. On the nose, I detect the acrid, chemical scent of crushed aspirin, alcohol, floral notes, and some juniper/pine towards the finish. In general, the aroma is unremarkable and more of a drawback than a benefit. In contrast, the Beefeater presents a much more pronounced juniper character, clean pine, alcohol, and a sharp quality that seems sweet but is too faint to identify. On the palate, the Greenall is smooth, evoking bad vodka more than good gin. There are some juniper and vegetal notes, but they are subdued and masked by the gin's overall artificial persona. It's not terrible, but it's certainly not something I want to taste neat again. It tastes like inexpensive, weak gin, period. The Beefeater continues to be superior with a more robust profile, stronger juniper, easily recognizable citrus elements, a touch of mintiness, all followed by a quick fade through black pepper to a slightly chemical finish. Alright, neither of these is ideal for sipping neat, though the Beefeater is significantly less unpleasant. What about in a mixed drink? I made Martinis (my preference) using a 3:1 ratio of gin to Dolin Dry vermouth, two dashes of saline, and one dash of orange bitters. Served chilled, no garnish. The Beefeater is the clear victor, but the J & G Greenall performs much better here. I can understand why some might even prefer the subtle gin profile that complements the vermouth more effectively. It's not bad at all, but not exceptional either. It's smooth but works well with the vermouth and was enhanced by a citrus twist. I wouldn't mind this martini at a restaurant, but again, I believe the Beefeater has more character and a more developed flavor. Price isn't a major issue. The J & G Greenall at around $15 for a 750ml bottle (when on sale) is about 15% cheaper than the Beefeater, but otherwise, they both sell for the same $17.99 per 750ml bottle. It's really not a difficult choice. I'll choose the Beefeater.
Greenall's London Dry Gin
2.81 Mixed reviews
Gin London Dry Gin England Unaged 37.5% ABV
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About this bottle
G & J Greenall, a Warrington, England-based company, has been making gin since 1761, establishing it as England's oldest gin distillery. Founded by Thomas Dakin, considered the original English gin pioneer, the distillery later came under Edward Greenall's ownership. He named the facility after his brothers, Gilbert and John. To mark its 250th anniversary in 2011, the distillery introduced its own London Dry gin. While the precise recipe remains a secret, it is known to include eight botanicals, such as juniper, angelica, lemon peel, and coriander. These botanicals are steeped in the neutral grain spirit before distillation, with the final product bottled at 37.5% ABV.
Reviews
Showing the most detailed of 16 parsed reviews.
I'm feeling quite relieved today. Perhaps it's the political climate calming down, or maybe the weekend is just around the corner, but I'll gladly accept this feeling. Feeling bold, I decided to sample Greenall's London Dry Gin, something new to me. Their history intrigued me: only seven master distillers have worked there in approximately 260 years! The aroma of Greenall's is subtle. It carries a slight astringency with a hint of juniper. Drinking it straight, I find this gin lacks significant body. Amidst the juniper, there's a hint of coriander, a general citrus note, and spicy pepper on the tip of my tongue that quickly travels down. The finish is fairly brief. It offers some of the expected dryness for this gin style, but without any harshness. Greenall's is certainly more suited for cocktails than for sipping neat. It's not exceptional, but the flavor isn't unpleasant either. I suspect this gin might disappear in a spirit-heavy drink, disappointing gin enthusiasts. I'd prefer it to be more fragrant and robust like many other gins available, but if you're seeking an affordable, "clean" tasting gin, it could be a reasonable option. 5.5/10
A sharp, London Dry Gin from the Head Distiller. Crafted in England using eight botanicals. It opens with an aromatic bouquet of fruits, flowers, roots, seeds, herbs & spices; a sharp middle reveals notes of juniper, citrus, coriander & angelica root; concluding in a dry & balanced finish of moderate duration. August 2023
A mild, smooth, and inoffensive gin, but its flavor is disappointingly weak and gets lost or is almost entirely masked by any mixer, even soda water, let alone tonic water. A higher proof bottling would have been a better choice.
Light and straightforward with juniper and the subtle bitterness and citrus from lemon peel. I haven't explored gin much recently, so I don't have another classic London Dry for comparison. It tastes like a more polished Beefeater. It's good. Costs $26 in Ontario.
This gin is great for mixing, but drinking it straight or on the rocks is a bit dull. It's astringent and dry, with juniper being the primary note, followed by lemon peel, and hints of coriander and black pepper. It's not remarkable, but it's drinkable.
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