London dry gin
Also called London gin, dry gin
The driest, most juniper forward style of gin, defined by method rather than place: neutral spirit redistilled with natural botanicals, nothing added afterward except water and a trace of sugar, no coloring. The default gin for a Martini, a Negroni and most classic sours.
- juniper
- coriander seed
- citrus peel
- angelica root earth
- pine
- dry pepper
- clean spirit
Origin
Under EU spirit drink rules gin is juniper led and at least 37.5% ABV; 'London gin' or 'London dry' is the strictest class, redistilled in a traditional still with all flavor coming from the botanicals during distillation, a methanol cap, a distillate of at least 70% ABV, no coloring and no sweetening beyond 0.1 g per liter if the word 'dry' is used. It can be made anywhere; London is a style, not an origin. The US standard sets gin at 40% minimum and lists dry gin alongside Old Tom and Geneva as recognized types.
Common uses
- martini
- negroni
- french-75
- singapore-sling
- gin and tonic
- Tom Collins
Pours that use it
- Classic
French 75
Gin, lemon and champagne, named for a field gun
A sparkling gin sour from the 1920s: gin, fresh lemon juice and sugar shaken, then topped with chilled champagne. A cognac version is also traditional.
GinShakenEasy - Classic
Martini
Gin, dry vermouth and the long argument about how much
The dry gin Martini: London dry gin and dry vermouth stirred with ice, finished with optional orange bitters and served straight up with a lemon twist or olive.
GinStirredEasy - Classic
Negroni
Equal parts, Florence, and a count who wanted more
Italy's bittersweet aperitivo classic: equal parts gin, Campari and sweet vermouth, stirred and served over ice with an orange slice or peel.
GinStirredEasy - International
Singapore Sling
The rose-colored long drink of the Long Bar
A tall, fruit-forward gin sling from Singapore's Raffles Hotel: gin, cherry liqueur, Benedictine, orange liqueur, pineapple, lime, grenadine and bitters, shaken and served over ice.
GinShakenIntermediate
Sources
- Gin: legal definitions, Difford's Guide · secondary source, retrieved 2026-10-11