Plymouth Gin Original — The Singular Expression of an Ancient Distillery
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Plymouth Gin Original is a Plymouth gin made by Black Friars Distillery. ABV: 41.2% ABV. Key botanicals include juniper, coriander seed, orange peel, lemon peel, angelica root. Our expert rating is 8/10. community average is 8.4/10 from 7 reviews.
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Nose
Softer and rounder than any London Dry, with juniper expressing itself as a gentle, earthy warmth rather than a sharp, resinous spike. Orange peel and lemon zest are fresh and inviting, lending a marmalade-like sweetness. Green cardamom is quietly present, contributing a subtle, exotic spice that is distinctively Plymouth. Orris root adds a powdery, floral delicacy. The overall impression is one of balance and composure — nothing shouts, everything speaks.
Palate
Full-bodied and remarkably smooth at 41.2%. The texture is almost silky — a hallmark of the Plymouth style. Juniper is present but expressed with a gentle hand, more earthy and herbal than resinous. Coriander seed adds a citric warmth, and the orange and lemon peels bring a rounded, marmalade-like sweetness that is genuinely distinctive. Green cardamom emerges more clearly on the palate, adding aromatic depth. There is a subtle sweetness throughout — not from added sugar, but from the natural character of the botanical balance.
Finish
Medium-long, soft, and warming. The cardamom lingers alongside a gentle citrus sweetness and a quiet, earthy juniper note. There is none of the sharp dryness of a London Dry finish — instead, a rounded, almost honeyed close that is thoroughly satisfying. Elegant and composed to the last.
Expert Review
8/10The sole surviving expression of the Plymouth gin style, distilled at the historic Black Friars Distillery. A soft, earthy, and beautifully balanced gin that honours centuries of tradition with quiet authority.
Community Reviews
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— Smooth classic from Black Friars
There's a reason Plymouth has been made at Black Friars Distillery for centuries. The 41.2% ABV creates that famously silky texture, and the soft juniper with orange and lemon peel citrus is beautifully balanced. The cardamom warmth on the finish is gorgeous.
13 March 2026
— A national treasure
Plymouth Gin Original is perfection. From the earthy juniper warmth through the silky, full-bodied palate to that gorgeous cardamom-tinged finish, every element at 41.2% is flawless. Black Friars Distillery has been making this for hundreds of years and it shows. Simply the best.
5 March 2026
— Black Friars brilliance
The oldest working gin distillery in England produces something truly special. That silky mouthfeel at 41.2%, the gentle juniper warmth, the coriander and citrus peel brightness — it all comes together in a way that feels effortless. The medium-long finish with lingering cardamom is divine.
14 February 2026Related Gins
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