No. 3 London Dry Gin

No. 3 is the gin of Berry Bros. & Rudd, the centuries-old St James's wine and spirits merchant, and it carries that house's preference for clarity over clutter. The whole gin is organised around three flavours, juniper, citrus and spice, drawn out in a unique hundred-year-old brick-built copper pot still. There is nothing extraneous here; every botanical is chosen to serve the balance rather than decorate it.

The nose is bright and soft, a refreshing hint of juniper. The palate brings juniper and floral notes, warm cardamom spice, intense citrus and a coriander bite, leading to a long finish of earthy dryness. This is a benchmark mixing gin: it makes a clean, crisp Martini, a refreshing G&T or a distinctive Negroni without ever losing its shape.