There's a reason No.3 London Dry Gin has earned its place on some of the most discerning back bars in the world. Named after the address of Berry Bros. & Rudd at No.3 St James's Street — one of Britain's oldest wine and spirit merchants — this is a gin that wears its heritage with quiet confidence. At 46% ABV, it sits at that sweet spot where the spirit has enough backbone to drive a cocktail without bulldozing the botanicals.
A Classicist's Gin
What I find genuinely impressive about No.3 is its commitment to the London Dry style in its purest form. This isn't a gin trying to reinvent the wheel or chase trends with exotic infusions. It's a gin that asks a deceptively simple question: what happens when you get the fundamentals absolutely right? The higher strength tells me there's real confidence in the distillation here — you only bottle at 46% when you know the spirit can handle the scrutiny. Every imperfection is amplified at that proof, so the fact that No.3 thrives there speaks volumes about the quality of the base spirit and the care taken during production.
Best Served
A gin this classically structured is practically begging to be stirred into a Martini — and that's no coincidence, given it's won the World's Best Martini accolade. I'd go with a 3:1 ratio with a quality dry vermouth, stirred for a full thirty seconds over large ice to get proper dilution, then strained into a frozen coupe with a lemon twist expressed over the surface. The 46% ABV means it holds its own beautifully against the vermouth without overpowering it. For something longer, a simple G&T with a premium Indian tonic and a grapefruit peel lets the gin do the talking.
At £46.75, you're paying a premium, but this gift box presentation makes it a genuinely elegant choice for someone who appreciates craft and tradition. A solid 7.5 out of 10 — a benchmark London Dry that reminds you why the classics endure.
