Anchor Old Tom Gin
Anchor Distilling · Anchor Distilling Company
Anchor's Old Tom is a history lesson in a glass. It recalls the sweeter gin style that dominated before London Dry took over, but does so with restraint and craft. The botanicals are layered rather than loud, and the subtle sweetness acts as a bridge, not a crutch. Excellent in a Martinez.
Nose
Juniper arrives wrapped in star anise and a gentle sweetness. Beneath it sits orange peel, meadowsweet, and a faint liquorice thread. There's an earthy angelica root quality anchoring the aromatics.
Palate
Soft and round, with the Old Tom style's subtle sweetness providing a canvas for the botanicals rather than masking them. Juniper stays central but shares the stage with coriander, cassia bark, and a lingering citrus brightness.
Finish
Medium-length, with juniper and liquorice slowly fading to a warm, slightly peppery close.
- Style
- Old Tom Gin
- Botanicals
- Juniper, star anise, coriander, angelica root, cassia bark, orange peel, lemon peel, cardamom
- Base Spirit
- Grain neutral spirit
- Distillation
- Pot distilled in a small copper still
Cocktail Suggestion
Martinez — 1.5 oz Anchor Old Tom Gin · 1.5 oz sweet vermouth · 0.25 oz Luxardo maraschino liqueur · 2 dashes orange bitters · Stir with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lemon twist.
Food Pairing
Duck liver pâté with cornichons
Crafted at San Francisco's Anchor Distilling Company — the spirits arm of the legendary Anchor Brewing — this Old Tom gin is produced in a small copper pot still and represents the distillery's effort to revive the original sweeter style of gin that predated London Dry.
Be the first to comment.
Leave a comment
Jura 10 Year Old Single Malt Scotch Whisky
Jura
Jura 10 is an island malt that sidesteps the peat-bomb stereotype entirely. Its restraint is its strength — a whisky shaped by geography rather than process, tasting of the rain and wind that batter its remote island home. Ideal as a gateway to island Scotch.
Noah's Mill Kentucky Bourbon Whiskey
Noah's Mill
Noah's Mill is barrel-proof bourbon without apology. Its intensity rewards patience — a splash of water opens the caramel and softens the leather into something rich and contemplative. A serious sipper for those who want their bourbon to push back.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin
Crossbill
Crossbill is a gin that refuses to compromise on juniper. Using only Scottish juniper berries and rosehip, it delivers one of the most juniper-forward profiles available — a gin built for G&T purists and Martini devotees who want the pine to sing. It tastes like the Scottish Highlands in a glass.
Rhum Clément Select Barrel Rhum Agricole
Clément
Clément Select Barrel is an excellent entry point into aged agricole rhum. The barrel aging tames the raw grassy intensity without erasing it, creating a spirit that bridges the gap between agricole purists and aged rum lovers. At its price, it's one of the best values in the category.
Crossbill Highland Dry Gin
Crossbill
Crossbill is a gin that refuses to compromise on juniper. Using only Scottish juniper berries and rosehip, it delivers one of the most juniper-forward profiles available — a gin built for G&T purists and Martini devotees who want the pine to sing. It tastes like the Scottish Highlands in a glass.
Tanqueray Lovage London Dry Gin
Tanqueray
Part of Tanqueray's limited-edition heritage series inspired by Charles Tanqueray's original recipes, Lovage brings back a Victorian-era botanical that most modern gins have forgotten. The savory character makes it a natural partner for a proper gin and tonic with a celery garnish, and a genuinely distinctive alternative to the floral gin trend.
Companero Gin by Sacred Spirits
Sacred Spirits
Sacred's vacuum distillation technique preserves the freshest expression of each botanical — no boiling, no heat degradation. The result is a gin of unusual clarity and precision. Each botanical is distinct yet integrated, making it equally suited to a contemplative neat pour or a gin and tonic that reveals new layers with every sip.
Whitley Neill Handcrafted Dry Gin
Whitley Neill
Whitley Neill's core expression is a proper London Dry that respects juniper without being one-dimensional. The interplay between African-sourced botanicals and classic gin architecture makes it versatile behind the bar and genuinely enjoyable neat. Outstanding value at the price point.