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You’ll want to have your sea legs at the ready before pouring out one of these tasty tipples
Much like any story that involves a lot of alcohol, the history of navy strength gin and how it came to be named is mixed with legend and rumour.
While it allegedly didn’t receive its moniker until the 1990s, thanks to a clever marketing ploy from Plymouth Gin, higher strength gin and the navy have long had a relationship.
As any good employer should, the Royal Navy legislated that gin and rum needed to be carried onboard boats, with officers drinking the former and the men drinking the latter. Fed up with being ripped off, so one story goes, the officers would add gunpowder to a measure of gin and see if it lit – if it did it was “overproof” or 57 per cent.
Another explanation, as Ben Martin, a spirit educator from The Liquor Studio, Leeds, tells us, is that “the gin had to be a high percentage as it would often be stored in the lower decks of the ship. If the ABV wasn’t high enough and the gin spilt onto the gunpowder, it would essentially render their firepower useless.”
He adds: “The higher ABV also means you get a lot more communication of flavour, so you don’t necessarily need a double shot. A good navy strength gin will linger on the tongue 10-15 seconds after it’s been drunk and it stands up to the tonic much better.”
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Because of the greater scope of flavour, navy strength lends itself to a sipping gin, with the different botanicals easier to identify. Or, if you want to give the drink its due historically, there are two cocktails seafarers would have slurped.
Firstly, the gin and tonic – though add a splash of Angostura bitters and a squeeze of lime for the naval version. Secondly, a gimlet – the most iconic drink with a navy strength. “Fresh fruit was stored within sugar barrels, which drew out the moisture from the citrus peels. This resulted in a potent lime syrup, which was added to the gin,” explains Ben.
From Sweden to Scotland, over to the USA and across the UK, we tried 35 navy strength gins, each with its own tale, to bring you the 15 best bottles.
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There were so many wonderful gins that we tried from big names and small batch distillers, that this list could easily have been twice as long. Every single bottle in the round-up had a unique flavour that was even more present at the higher ABV.
Ultimately though, there is one brand that serves as a benchmark for navy strength gin – whether it be your first time sipping or simply reminding yourself of a classic – and that’s Plymouth Gin’s navy strength. It’s a smooth, London dry with a well-rounded finish that will please all palates – plus, its link to the navy and history make it an excellent introduction to the genre.
An honourable mention also goes to BeauFort Fifty-Seven for its depth of smoky flavour, that’s rarely seen in a gin and we found to be one of the best for sipping straight or in a martini. Finally, Elephant Gin’s use of unusual botanicals, sourced from South Africa, gave it a spicy, deep flavour that really livened up a tonic.
Now you have an extensive guide to navy strength gins, it’s time to experiment and reveal the mixologist within with one of these best cocktail shakers