Old Tom
£26.60 – £27.30
6 O’clock Gin Old Tom has been crafted with reverence to times past, for the modern mixologist. Botanicals including juniper, coriander, cardamom and cassia bark are distilled in our unique double-sphere copper still, then expertly blended with sugar to create a timeless gin layered with complexity, balanced by subtle sweetness.
Enjoy this authentic and alluring gin neat over ice, or use as the foundation for a host of cocktails – both classic and contemporary – as you embark on a journey through time.
Limited stock available – get it before it’s gone!
Tasting notes
Old Tom gin is drier and less malty than Genever, but sweeter than London Dry; it is sometimes called ‘The Missing Link’.
Dominant pine from the juniper is quickly followed by citrus notes, enhanced by the coriander seeds and citrus peels. Subtle spices add aromatic warmth and bite to the palate, whilst the sweetness balances the botanicals and rounds out the finish. The added sugar gives the gin a rich and luxurious mouthfeel that amplifies the already strikingly smooth quality of the gin.
For Mixing:
Old Tom is best served in your favourite gin cocktail. Try switching out the London Dry in a classic Martini, Tom Collins or Gimlet.
Old Tom Gin is specified for Jerry Thomas’ cocktail called the Martinez in his 1887 Bartender’s Guide,
How to Mix All Kinds of Plain and Fancy Drinks; the Martinez is arguably the precursor to the Martini.
Add extra pizzazz to a Gin Fizz using Old Tom: shake together 50ml gin, 25ml lemon juice, 15ml simple syrup and 1 egg white, double strain into a chilled Collins glass and top up with soda water. Garnish with lemon.
Prefer to enjoy a simple mixer? Old Tom pairs well with tonic water, ginger ale or soda water.
Pack your Copa de Balon glass with plenty of ice to keep your chosen mixer cold and maintain the fizz; those bursting bubbles help to deliver aroma and flavour! Garnish with orange, lemon or a sprig of rosemary.
Take a little time to find out more...
Old Tom is a style of gin that first became popular in the 18th century, but gradually went out of fashion as the ubiquitous London Dry found fame.
Less malty and drier than its forerunner Geneva, Old Tom is slightly sweeter than London Dry; it is sometimes referred to as ‘The Missing Link’.
The name is said to come from wooden cat-shaped plaques that could be found outside clandestine gin shops, following the prohibitive Gin Act of 1736.
Old Tom has experienced a well-deserved resurgence in the 21st century, spurred by a revival of classic cocktails and a growing interest in craft spirits.
Being British, we enjoy gin and tonic at 6 O’clock; a tradition still shared by gin-lovers all over the world. After all, it’s always 6 O’clock somewhere.
