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.
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