First Impressions
Liverpool's gin heritage dates to 1795 when Robert Preston opened the Bank Hall Distillery — the street where it stood is now called Juniper Street. In 2012, pub landlord John O'Dowd and Mark Hensby of Liverpool Organic Brewery revived the tradition. Their distillery opened on Castle Street in 2018 — a £1 million four-floor site with a custom 600-litre Carterhead still, two bars, a gin lab and a bartending school. Eight botanicals, all certified organic, macerated in organic wheat grain spirit.
Tasting
The nose is classic juniper-led with lemon and orange zest, an unexpected earthy undertone from the angelica. On the palate, juniper-forward with coriander and cardamom mid-palate, noticeable cassia warmth and faint liquorice — very dry and ethereal. The finish is moderate and clean with green juniper and citrus lingering.
The Bottom Line
Liverpool Gin earns a 7 for solid organic craft and genuine local heritage. It's a dependable classic London Dry rather than a boundary-pusher — the kind of gin that rewards a good tonic and a citrus peel rather than demanding analysis. Silver medals at the International Spirits Challenge and San Francisco World Spirits Competition confirm consistent quality. The organic certification throughout — botanicals and base spirit — sets it apart from the crowd.
