First Impressions
Greenall's has been distilling gin in Warrington since 1761, making it one of the longest-established gin producers in England. G&J Distillers, which produces the Greenall's range, is the world's largest gin distillery — a heritage that the Wild Berry expression draws upon for its base spirit while taking the brand firmly into the flavoured gin territory that has dominated supermarket shelves in recent years.
The proposition is straightforward: take Greenall's established London Dry base, infuse it with Irish raspberries and British blackberries, and bottle the result at the minimum 37.5% ABV. At around £15, this is a gin designed for the mass market — the question is whether it delivers enough character to justify its place against the many competitors on the value shelf.
The Distillery
G&J Distillers in Warrington houses the oldest continuously operational gin still in the world, and the base London Dry gin uses eight botanicals including Tuscan juniper berries, Moroccan coriander, and Spanish lemon peel. The Wild Berry variant infuses Irish raspberries and British blackberries into this base, creating the pink colour and berry character naturally. The botanical quality of the base gin is beyond question — the challenge is whether the berry infusion enhances or obscures it.
Tasting
The nose is dominated by jammy fruit. Blackberry, blackcurrant, and raspberry arrive in force — somewhat reminiscent of diluted Ribena, as one reviewer aptly noted. The underlying piney gin base is detectable but has to fight for attention beneath the berry onslaught. For drinkers who want a berry-forward nose, this delivers; for those seeking gin aromatics, the juniper is playing catch-up from the start.
On the palate, there is a pleasant surprise. The light sweetness from the berries is present, but the traditional piney juniper gin notes are more forward here than on the nose — the base gin reasserts itself with the help of aggressive black pepper spice that cuts through the fruit with welcome vigour. The combination of black and red berry fruit with cracked pepper creates a palate that is more interesting than the nose might suggest, though the 37.5% ABV means the overall experience lacks body.
The finish is straightforward: lingering red berry notes, piney juniper, and cracked black pepper. It does not outstay its welcome but nor does it vanish instantly. The pepper adds persistence that the berry notes alone could not provide.
How to Drink It
Greenall's Wild Berry is a G&T gin, pure and simple. Use lemonade or Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and garnish with fresh berries and a twist of lemon. The berry infusion creates a visually appealing pink drink, and the tonic provides the structure that the gin's minimum ABV cannot quite muster alone.
For parties, it makes a passable Bramble without the need for crème de mûre — the berry infusion provides the fruit component. It also works in a simple spritz, topped with prosecco and soda.
The Bottom Line
Greenall's Wild Berry Gin earns a 5.5 as a competent, affordable berry gin that benefits from a high-quality base spirit. The aggressive black pepper is its saving grace — it prevents the berry infusion from turning the gin into a simple fruit cordial and provides a juniper-adjacent spice that keeps the drink grounded. At £15, expectations are modest, and Greenall's largely meets them. It is a reliable party gin and a gateway drink for those exploring gin through the berry route, but it lacks the depth and character to satisfy drinkers who want their gin to taste like gin first and fruit second.
