First Impressions
Adnams First Rate Triple Malt Dry Gin is the Southwold distillery's premium gin expression, and it justifies the name. Where the Copper House Dry uses six botanicals at 40%, First Rate deploys thirteen at 48% — a significant escalation in both complexity and strength. But the most intriguing aspect is the base spirit: a triple-malt distillate made from locally grown barley, wheat, and oat. This grain combination — more commonly associated with brewing than distilling — gives the spirit a richness and texture that single-grain bases cannot achieve.
The gin earned a Gold medal at The Gin Masters 2018 (The Spirits Business) and a perfect 5/5 from Simon Difford — accolades that place it among the most highly regarded gins in production.
The Distillery
The Copper House Distillery at Adnams in Southwold produces First Rate using their bespoke German-built still and the triple-stage distillation process that defines all their spirits. The thirteen botanicals are: juniper berries, orris root, coriander seeds, cardamom pods, cassia bark, vanilla pods, angelica root, caraway seeds, fennel seeds, thyme, liquorice, sweet orange, and lemon peel. It is a botanical bill that balances classic London Dry ingredients with aromatic herbs (thyme, fennel) and warming spices (caraway, cassia), creating a gin of genuine complexity.
The triple-malt base — barley, wheat, and oat — is distilled from locally sourced grains, and the oat in particular contributes a creamy, slightly sweet quality that you can taste in the final spirit.
Tasting
The nose is complex and beautifully integrated — the hallmark of a gin where thirteen botanicals have been brought into genuine harmony rather than mere coexistence. Juniper, thyme, cardamom, and orange zest emerge as the dominant aromas, each clearly defined but none competing for dominance. There is herbal pine alongside sweet lemon and florals from the orris root. The complexity of the nose rewards multiple approaches — each time you return, a different botanical seems to take the lead.
On the palate, the gin is wonderfully clean and strongly flavoured. The balance between the juniper and the other botanicals is exceptionally well struck — this is a gin where every ingredient earns its place, and the thirteen-botanical bill creates a palate of genuine depth. The triple-malt base contributes richness and a subtle grainy sweetness that provides a foundation for the botanicals to build upon. At 48% ABV, the mouthfeel is full and luxurious, and the strength ensures every botanical voice is heard clearly.
The finish is juniper-forward with woody-citrus notes — long and satisfying. The thyme and fennel add herbal complexity to the finish, and the liquorice provides a subtle sweetness that extends the aftertaste. It is a finish that matches the nose and palate in quality — no component of this gin underperforms.
How to Drink It
First Rate deserves a Martini as its primary serve. The 48% ABV, the triple-malt richness, and the thirteen-botanical complexity create a Martini of genuine sophistication — try it at 5:1 with dry vermouth and a lemon twist. In a G&T, use Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and garnish with a sprig of fresh thyme — the herbal garnish connects directly with one of the gin's signature botanicals.
This is also a gin that rewards neat tasting — at room temperature in a tulip glass — to appreciate the full scope of what thirteen botanicals and a triple-malt base can achieve together.
The Bottom Line
Adnams First Rate Triple Malt Dry Gin earns an 8.5 as one of the finest gins produced in England. The thirteen-botanical bill is masterfully balanced, the triple-malt base provides a richness and texture that single-grain spirits cannot match, and the 48% ABV gives every botanical the body and clarity it needs. The Gold medal and Difford's perfect score are thoroughly deserved. At around £45, it sits at the premium end, but the quality justifies every penny. This is Adnams at their absolute best — a brewer's intelligence applied to distillation, with extraordinary results.
