Gordon's

Gordon’s Gin, arguably the most famous Gin in the world, is also one of the oldest; being first produced in 1796, in Southwark, London, by Alexander Gordon. Production stayed in London for a while, but as the brand began to grow in popularity, demand rose and the Spirit was sold all over the world.

In 1898, Gordon & Co. joined forces with Charles Tanqueray & Co., to form Gordon Tanqueray & Co. but today the brand is owned by drinks giant Diageo. In 1998, production was moved to the Cameronbridge Distillery in Fife, Scotland.

Almost unbelievably, the recipe for Gordon’s is known to only 12 people in the world, and has been kept secret for 250 years. It’s triple distilled for a smooth flavor, and allegedly contains coriander, liquorice and citrus peels, alongside the obvious juniper.

In the UK, Gordon’s is sold in a green glass bottle, but the rest of the world will know its clear glass and yellow label combo. The green glass bottle came first, when it was cheaper to manufacture than clear glass.

In fact, the clear bottle was only introduced to celebrate a large order of the drink which was heading to Australia. To this day, the distinction between export and domestic Gin remains (plus, the export strength is a heady 47.5% ABV, versus the 37.5% ABV for domestic Gin).