There are certain streets in London that carry their history in the stones beneath your feet. Portobello Road is one of them — a thoroughfare of antiques dealers, market traders, and quiet eccentrics that has reinvented itself a dozen times over without ever losing its soul. It seems fitting, then, that a gin bearing its name should attempt something equally daring: a London Dry that leans unapologetically into the savoury.
A London Dry With Nerve
Portobello Road No.171 Savoury Gin takes the disciplined architecture of a classic London Dry — juniper-led, clean, structurally precise — and threads it with something altogether more culinary. At 42% ABV, it sits at a comfortable strength that lets the botanical work breathe without overwhelming the palate. The word 'savoury' in the name is not a gimmick; it is a statement of intent. This is a gin designed to occupy the space between the drinks trolley and the kitchen counter, and it does so with genuine conviction.
What I find most compelling about this expression is the way it challenges expectations. London Dry as a category carries certain assumptions — citrus brightness, a particular crispness — and while those foundations are present, they share the stage with earthier, more herbaceous qualities that reward a slower, more considered sip. It is a gin that asks you to pay attention.
At £38.95, it occupies a competitive middle ground where quality must do the talking, and here it largely delivers. A confident, well-crafted spirit that may not reach the heights of the most exceptional bottles I have encountered, but one that earns its place with character and a clear point of view.
Best Served
Over ice with a premium Indian tonic and a sprig of fresh rosemary — ideally on a slow Sunday afternoon when something in the oven demands a companion worth savouring.
