Sipsmith Distillery (Chiswick, London)
Sipsmith London Dry Gin Review
London Dry Gin (Copper Pot, Small Batch) · Unaged
The craft revival done right — Sipsmith brought copper-pot gin back to London and makes an impeccable, classic London Dry.
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Rating Breakdown
Flavor Profile
Tasting Journey
Nose
Juniper, lemon and orange peel, floral coriander, and a soft, refined botanical lift
Palate
Classic and clean — juniper-led, citrus, subtle spice, and a rounded, elegant body from copper-pot distillation
Finish
Length: MediumSmooth, dry, and gently warming, with citrus and juniper
Sipsmith London Dry Gin
Specs
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Our Score: 90/100
Pairings
Food
- Cured meats
- goat cheese
- citrus salads
- smoked fish
- roasted vegetables
Cocktails
- Dry Martini
- Gin & Tonic
- Southside
- Negroni
Our Verdict
Sipsmith is proof that 'craft' can mean traditional excellence rather than gimmicks. It revived copper-pot gin distilling in London and makes an impeccable, classic London Dry — juniper-forward, beautifully balanced, and endlessly versatile. A modern benchmark.
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Shop at Cask CartelHow We Score
Every spirit is tasted blind in a Glencairn glass across multiple sessions on different days. We score on a 100-point weighted scale, recording notes before the label is revealed to eliminate brand bias.
Rating Criteria
Aroma complexity, intensity, and appeal
Flavor depth, balance, and mouthfeel
Length, evolution, and lingering notes
Quality relative to price point
Layered character and uniqueness
When Sipsmith opened in Chiswick in 2009, it was the first copper-pot gin distillery to launch in London in nearly two centuries — it literally had to change UK licensing law to exist. That origin story matters, because Sipsmith could have chased trends. Instead it doubled down on doing a classic London Dry impeccably, and that restraint is exactly why it earned its reputation.
The nose is refined and unmistakably classic: juniper, lemon and orange peel, floral coriander, and a soft botanical lift. It is more elegant and rounded than the punchy Tanqueray, without ever losing the juniper thread.
On the palate
Distilled in small batches in a copper pot still (named "Prudence"), Sipsmith is clean, juniper-led, and beautifully balanced — citrus, subtle spice, and a rounded body that reads as genuinely handcrafted. At 41.6% it is a touch softer than Tanqueray, which makes it wonderfully versatile across cocktails.
The verdict
Sipsmith is a modern classic and the antidote to the idea that "craft gin" means novelty botanicals. It makes a superb Martini and a clean Gin & Tonic, and it belongs on any serious gin shelf alongside the traditional greats. If you love what Tanqueray does but want a little more polish, this is your bottle.
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