Plymouth Gin Navy Strength
Plymouth · Black Friars Distillery
Plymouth's navy strength is a masterclass in proportional scaling — every botanical that works at 41.2% works harder here without distortion. The Dartmoor water's soft mineral profile keeps the 57% from becoming aggressive. Essential for a proper gimlet and a reminder that Plymouth's geographic appellation is more than marketing.
Nose
Juniper leads with a resinous, pine-forward intensity, backed by earthy angelica and bright coriander. Lemon zest and a faint violet floral quality emerge as the proof settles.
Palate
Muscular and full-bodied — the high proof amplifies every botanical. Juniper stays dominant with cassia bark warmth, a peppery bite, and orris root lending a powdery, almost chalky minerality. Orange peel sweetness rounds the edges.
Finish
Powerful and lingering with juniper resin, cracked black pepper, and a dry, slightly earthy close.
- Style
- Navy Strength
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander seed, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root, orris root, cardamom
- Base Spirit
- neutral grain spirit
- Distillation
- Single-shot pot distillation in a copper still
Cocktail Suggestion
Navy Gimlet — 2 oz Plymouth Navy Strength Gin · 0.75 oz fresh lime juice · 0.5 oz rich simple syrup · Shake with ice, strain into a chilled coupe, garnish with a lime wheel.
Food Pairing
Simply grilled sardines with a squeeze of lemon and coarse sea salt complement the gin's maritime heritage, while the fish's oiliness tempers the proof and lets the juniper shine.
Distilled at the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, England — the oldest working gin distillery in the country, operating since 1793 in a former Dominican monastery on the Barbican waterfront.
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