Ford's Gin Officers' Reserve Navy Strength Gin
Ford's Gin · Thames Distillers
Officers' Reserve is the rare navy strength gin that earns its extra proof through genuine complexity rather than brute force. The brief Oloroso sherry cask rest is a masterclass in restraint—adding just enough richness to elevate the classic Ford's botanical profile without obscuring it. A gin that rewards trust in the process, and in the craft of blending tradition with innovation.
Nose
An arresting wave of bright juniper resin and candied citrus peel greets the nose, followed by warm coriander seed and a whisper of dried chamomile. Beneath, a subtle oxidative nuttiness from its time in Oloroso sherry casks adds unexpected depth and gravitas.
Palate
The higher proof delivers tremendous textural weight without aggression—bold juniper anchors the mid-palate while baking spice, cassia bark, and a gentle floral note from jasmine weave through layers of preserved lemon and toasted almond. The sherry cask influence provides a silky roundness and faint dried-fruit sweetness that tempers the spirit's muscular structure.
Finish
Long and warming, with lingering juniper, cracked black pepper, and a final echo of sherry-kissed orris root that fades slowly and gracefully.
- Style
- Navy Strength, Cask-Rested
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander, angelica root, orris root, cassia bark, jasmine, orange peel, lemon peel, grapefruit peel
- Base Spirit
- Wheat-based neutral spirit
- Distillation
- Pot-distilled in a traditional copper pot still at Thames Distillers, with botanicals vapor-infused and steeped, then briefly rested in ex-Oloroso sherry casks
Cocktail Suggestion
The Quartermaster — 1.5 oz Ford's Officers' Reserve · 0.75 oz Amontillado sherry · 0.75 oz fresh lemon juice · 0.5 oz honey syrup (1:1) · Stir sherry and honey syrup, then shake all with ice · Strain into a coupe · Garnish with a lemon twist
Food Pairing
Pan-seared halibut with a Marcona almond crust, served atop braised fennel and a light saffron beurre blanc. The gin's nutty sherry-cask character mirrors the toasted almonds, while its juniper backbone and citrus brightness cut through the richness of the butter sauce.
Conceived by bartender Simon Ford and master distiller Charles Maxwell, Officers' Reserve takes the acclaimed Ford's London Dry formula and rests it in aged Oloroso sherry casks—a finishing step inspired by the Royal Navy's historical practice of storing gin in whatever barrels were available on ship.
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