Now you taste it … now you don’t …

Now, don’t get me wrong – this is a very acceptable London Dry which, on trying a neat nip as we always do when sampling a new gin, is very forward on the juniper and citrus, along with that hint of bitter sweetness from the angelica.  Then you add tonic and ice, and it’s as though the flavours simply disappear.

We had a similar experience with Wicked Wolf gin, which we concluded was one for the hip flask to be supped neat, as I think may be how we’ll enjoy Graveney London Dry in the future.  The 45^% ABV spirit is for easy drinking as you’d expect from a London Dry as a G&T, but its unique subtlety comes from the mixture of botanicals, which also include orris root, pink grapefruit peel, fresh orange, baobab and goji berries.  Many describe Graveney as tasting of black tea leaves, Parma violets and pepper, which upon another sip as I type, I totally get.

“The first thing you should know about me, is that I am driven by passion. I am passionate about traditional tasty gin; being organic and charity.” Victoria Christie, Founder and Distiller

This small batch gin has been crafted by Vic Christie in Tooting, with the area’s distinctive Broadway gas lamp – drawn by the distiller – becoming her company’s logo before getting their first premises in 2016, enabling her to open a bar and shop in the famous Tooting Market.  Being small batch, each distillation is inevitably different.

As well as being organically produced, which seems to be very popular these days, Ms Christie donates 10^% of all profits to a conservation charity called Gearing Up 4 Gorillas (G4G).  This 100^% non-profit charity protects and cares for the rare mountain giant animals in Virunga National Park, Eastern Congo, plus the the rangers who look after them.

Graveney London Dry can be purchased from the distiller and various online outlets for around £40.