Old Tom gin occupies a fascinating middle ground in the gin family — sweeter than a London Dry, drier than a genever, and absolutely essential to understanding how gin evolved from Dutch apothecary spirit to the backbone of the modern cocktail bar. Citadelle No Mistake Old Tom Gin is a deliberate nod to that heritage, and at 46% ABV, it arrives with considerably more conviction than many Old Tom expressions on the market.
Style & Character
What I find particularly interesting about this bottling is the choice to push the ABV above the typical 40-42% range you see in most Old Tom gins. That extra strength suggests Citadelle wanted the botanical character to punch through the inherent sweetness of the style rather than be softened by it. The Citadelle house is renowned for its copper pot still distillation and its willingness to work with a broad palette of botanicals, so I'd expect that craftsmanship to carry through here — a gin where the sweetness feels integrated and purposeful rather than cloying.
Best Served
Old Tom was born to make a proper Tom Collins, and this is exactly where I'd start. Build it long with fresh lemon juice, a light sugar syrup — go easy, the gin brings its own sweetness — and good soda water over large, clear ice. A lemon wheel and a single mint leaf to garnish. At this ABV, it should also make a stunning Martinez: two parts gin, one part sweet vermouth, a barspoon of maraschino, and a dash of orange bitters, stirred until properly cold. The sweetness of the Old Tom style is what makes that cocktail sing.
At 7.3 out of 10, Citadelle No Mistake Old Tom is a confident, well-constructed take on a style that deserves more attention. It's the kind of bottle that earns its place on a back bar and rewards anyone curious enough to explore beyond London Dry.
