Whitley Neill Handcrafted Original Dry Gin
Whitley Neill · City of London Distillery
Johnny Neill's family recipe — drawing on four generations of distilling heritage — is a gin that doesn't chase trends. It is emphatically juniper-forward, botanically balanced, and built for versatility. The African botanicals (baobab fruit and cape gooseberry) add textural interest without pulling focus from what is, at heart, a superb classical gin at an honest price.
Nose
Piney juniper leads with confidence, followed by warm cassia bark and a bright flash of citrus peel. Coriander seed adds a gentle earthy spice, while a subtle floral undercurrent — orris root and a wisp of something almost violet-like — emerges with time.
Palate
Well-structured and medium-bodied, with juniper remaining the anchor throughout. Cassia bark warmth builds alongside ginger's gentle heat, while angelica root provides a dry, grounding earthiness. Lemon peel brightens the mid-palate without sharpness.
Finish
Medium and dry, with lingering juniper, a touch of peppery warmth, and a clean citrus fade.
- Style
- London Dry
- Botanicals
- Juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, cassia bark, orris root, lemon peel, cape gooseberry, baobab fruit, ginger
- Base Spirit
- Grain neutral spirit
- Distillation
- Pot still distillation
Cocktail Suggestion
Quiet Negroni — 1.5 oz Whitley Neill Original Dry Gin · 1 oz sweet vermouth · 0.75 oz Campari · 0.25 oz cold water · Stir over ice for 30 seconds, strain into a rocks glass over a large cube, garnish with an orange peel.
Food Pairing
Buckwheat blini topped with cold-smoked salmon, crème fraîche, and a squeeze of lemon — the gin's juniper and citrus cut through the richness while its earthy spice complements the smoky fish.
Created by Johnny Neill, a fourth-generation distiller descended from the Greenall family, who blends African botanicals from his wife's South African heritage with the classical London dry tradition at the City of London Distillery.
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