Beefeater London Dry Gin is possibly the ultimate benchmark when considering gins and from a distillation, historical and flavour perspective, is the very definition of a traditional London Dry Gin. On the nose Beefeater is both spicy and fruity, nicely balanced and clearly focused on the juniper. The palate is dry with a herbal bouquet and citrus notes complimenting the juniper. Beefeater deserves its position as one as one the gin categories leaders as, indisputably, it's a classic you can always rely on. The name 'Beefeater' refers to the Yeoman Warders who are the ceremonial guards of the Tower of London. The decision to name the gin Beefeater was truly revolutionary at the time and it is one of the first examples of (gin) brands using an aspirational image and emblem, rather than a family name or location to position the product as the ultimate London Dry Gin. On a separate note; Not that geographical location has anything to do with the London Dry name tag (as this refers to the method of distillation and other such technicalities), the Beefeater distillery is one of only 4 currently still operational in London itself. Beefeater has always had a major export trade thanks to its early marketing as a quintessentially ?English? product, and the Burrough company have reputedly been exporting as far back as the 1900's. Their vision and efforts to re-establish trade routes after the second world war are particularly notable and in 1957, a reputed 65% of Beefeater production was exported. With export firmly in mind, on the maiden journey of the QE2 ship to New York, Beefeater was the only gin aboard and by 1980, it broke the two million case (sold) barrier.