Cambridge Distillery has built a reputation for pushing the boundaries of what gin can be, and the Truffle Gin is perhaps the most audacious expression of that philosophy. At £85.50, this is a bottle that demands attention — and justification. It gets both.
A Luxury Play in a Crowded Market
The concept is disarmingly simple: marry the earthy, umami-rich character of truffle with the clean architecture of a London Dry. In practice, this is anything but straightforward. Cambridge Distillery has carved out a niche in the ultra-premium segment where few competitors dare to operate, and the Truffle Gin sits comfortably at the apex of that positioning. It is a gin designed not for the casual G&T drinker but for the sort of person who asks their bartender what's interesting.
At 42% ABV, it sits at the gentler end of the spectrum — a deliberate choice, I suspect, to let the truffle character breathe without being bulldozed by alcohol heat. This is a gin that trades on subtlety and intrigue rather than juniper-forward punch, though it remains firmly within the London Dry classification.
Best Served
Best served in a dry Martini with a minimal vermouth ratio — let the truffle do the talking. A lemon twist over an olive, every time. This is also one of the rare gins that genuinely works as a short sip, lightly chilled, for those willing to engage with it on its own terms. Bartenders in high-end cocktail bars will find it a useful conversation starter, though the price point means it is unlikely to become a well staple.
I rate Cambridge Distillery Truffle Gin 7.8 out of 10. It is a compelling oddity — beautifully conceived and smartly positioned — though the premium asks a lot of the casual buyer. For the adventurous, it delivers.
