Navy Strength gin occupies a particular place in the canon — a category defined not by marketing ambition but by historical necessity. At 57% ABV, it had to prove itself aboard Royal Navy vessels, where gunpowder soaked in anything weaker simply would not ignite. Broken Bones Navy Gin honours that legacy with a botanical bill that suggests real thought has gone into how these ingredients will perform at proof strength.
A Botanical Bill Worth Studying
What immediately draws attention here is the inclusion of linden flowers — an ingredient more commonly associated with herbal tisanes than with gin. It is a quietly inspired choice. Linden blossom carries a honeyed, slightly floral quality that, at navy strength, has the structural integrity to stand alongside bolder companions. The lemon zest provides the requisite citrus brightness, while cardamom introduces a warm, aromatic spice note that lends complexity without overwhelming the spirit's core character. Liquorice rounds out the botanical quartet, offering a subtle sweetness and a long, anchoring depth that navy strength gins so often benefit from.
Style and Character
This is a gin that appears to understand its category. Navy Strength demands that every botanical earns its place — at 57% ABV, there is nowhere to hide, and anything poorly balanced will announce itself immediately. The combination Broken Bones has assembled suggests a spirit that balances floral elegance against warming spice, with the liquorice providing a gentle sweetness to temper the fire of the higher alcohol content. It is a thoughtful approach: rather than simply taking a standard gin recipe and bottling it at proof, the botanical selection here feels deliberately calibrated for the demands of the format.
Best Served
A gin of this intensity deserves a serve that respects it. My recommendation would be a classic Navy Strength G&T — a generous measure over plenty of ice, topped with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic Water and a twist of lemon peel. The quinine and the lemon zest in the gin will find natural harmony, while the tonic's carbonation opens up the cardamom and linden flower. For those inclined towards cocktails, this should perform admirably in a Negroni, where the higher ABV will push through the Campari and sweet vermouth rather than surrender to them.
At £49.75, Broken Bones Navy Gin sits at a fair price point for a navy strength offering with this level of botanical consideration. It is a gin that respects the traditions of its category while introducing enough individuality — that linden flower, particularly — to distinguish itself from the field. A confident 8 out of 10.
