Fifty Pounds Gin, 70cl

Product Information

Gin has inspired many a great quote. Winston Churchill, a man not averse to a tipple, once declared that “the gin and tonic has saved more Englishmen’s lives, and minds, than all the doctors in the Empire.”

I was all set to write a middling review on this stuff. I really was. But I said to myself, “What are we if we don’t have some standards?” whereupon I poured myself a glass of it neat to establish a final word. And guess what? The Fifty Pounds availed itself nicely! Double Dutch Indian Tonic Water – The top note of quinine is balanced with pink grapefruit. This is a perfect tonic for classic gins and therefore matches well with Fifty Pounds Gin garnished with a slice of orange. I’m a great fan of Beefeater 24 Gin, I think it’s a superb gin and Desmond Payne (Master Distiller) did an amazing job when he created that. I also like straight Tanqueray Gin - I think it’s another really nice gin.Gin, however, is definitely English. The juniper comes from the Dutch spirit, but the recipe and method that gives us gin is, officially, all ours.

Fentimans Valencian Orange Tonic Water – Beautiful aromatic tonic water made with quinine, oranges and lemongrass. It pairs well with Fifty Pounds Gin – garnish with a sprig of thyme and orange zest. If you’re looking for a less aromatic G&T, try Fentimans Connoisseurs Tonic Water. Those who are looking for a clean, very dry and understated classic style gin will surely find a lot to like with Fifty Pounds Gin. I think it’s an easy step for those looking for something new, but something similarly old at the same time. Fans of Beefeater and Broker’s will likely find this a new favorite. So: the story of the name. Feel free to read more on it if you’re curious, but here’s the lowdown: At one point during the early 1700s, Gin was basically the Fentanyl of England. Lax production laws meant that people were putting all sorts of adulterants into it to lower the price (sulfuric acid, anyone?), and in a well-publicized story, a woman literally killed her kid, sold his clothes, and bought gin with the proceeds. London Essence Tonic Water range – This mixer range is wonderful and all their tonic waters complement Fifty Pounds Gin. Choose from Classic Tonic Water, Grapefruit & Rosemary (try an olive garnish), Bitter Orange & Elderflower (juniper berries or basil & lime) and Pomelo & Pink Pepper. Llanllyr Source Tonic Water – For traditional G&T serve, try Llanllyr Source Tonic Water. Its citrus notes work nicely with this classic juniper-strong gin, just garnish with a sprig of thyme and a lime wedge. Lime and sprig of ThymeMind you, if it did dilute the contents, the results could be useful – if left a while. Experts suggest the best way to taste gins for comparison is to dilute the gin with an equal measure of water and sample it at room temperature. As it happens Churchill might have a more literal point than he perhaps realised: the distinctive bitter flavour of tonic comes from quinine, derived from the bark of the cinchona tree and a celebrated cure for malaria. Even though the cinchona bark from which quinine is derived is brown, the first tonic water was clear. This is because even the earliest tonic waters were made with quinine directly, not the bark. This entire process takes around five hours at which point the liquid is split into three sections, the head, heart and tails. As mentioned above, we only use the heart.

The nose of Fifty Pounds Gin is lemon, lime, juniper, and very classic in character. Just a tinge of sweetness and creamy lemon as well. The nose is markedly lighter and clearer then the palate. Artisan Skinny London Tonic – If you’re looking for a lighter tonic, this one pairs well with Fifty Pounds Gin due to its complex citrus notes. Garnish with a juicy slice of orange. Keeping it simple with tonic and a slice of orange.

My Account

Gin’s origins are Dutch. British troops fighting the Thirty Years War got somewhat hooked on a local tipple, called “jenever” – the Dutch name for juniper, the key flavour in the drink. This is left to settle for no less than three weeks, which allows the botanicals’ essentials oils to blend perfectly with the grain spirit. The final step towards achieving our precious gin is to balance the distillate obtained with the same type of neutral alcohol, together with demineralised water, to achieve the perfect balance and alcohol content.