Boodles Gin 1.75L

Boodles British Gin traces its roots to 1845, when it was first produced by Cock Russell & Company and named for Boodle's, the storied gentlemen's club in London's St. James's founded in 1762 by Edward Boodle. It earned a reputation as a favorite among the club's regulars, reportedly including Winston Churchill. Ownership passed through several hands over the decades, including Seagram's and Pernod Ricard, before Proximo Spirits acquired the brand in 2012. Today the gin is distilled by G&J Distillers in Warrington, England, following the original nineteenth-century recipe.

Production begins with a base spirit distilled from British wheat, which is redistilled in a Carter Head copper still so that vapor, rather than direct contact, draws flavor from the botanicals suspended above the liquid. The recipe leans on juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, angelica seed, nutmeg, sage, rosemary, caraway, and celery seed, with citrus notably left out of the blend, a departure from many London Dry gins.

The result is a soft, approachable gin with piney, resinous juniper up front, joined by warm herbal notes from sage and rosemary and a gentle spiced lift from nutmeg and caraway. The palate stays light through a dry, slightly peppery finish. It suits a classic gin and tonic or a dry martini, and pairs nicely with smoked salmon canapés or a simple cheese board.