There's something deeply romantic about holding a bottle that bridges the gap between gin's storied past and its present revival. The Robert Burnett Old Tom Gin, with its 1947 bottling date, is precisely that kind of spirit — a genuine artefact from a time when Old Tom was still a working category rather than a craft curiosity.
A Window Into Old Tom History
For those unfamiliar, Old Tom sits beautifully between the juniper-forward dryness of a London Dry and the malty sweetness of a Genever. It's the style that built the cocktail culture of the 19th century, the gin that made the Tom Collins possible and gave early Martinis their rounder, more approachable character. To encounter a mid-century example from a heritage house like Robert Burnett is to taste what bartenders of that era were actually working with — not a modern interpretation, but the real thing.
At 45.6% ABV, this bottling carries a robust proof that would have been typical of the period, giving the spirit enough backbone to stand up in mixed drinks while allowing the sweeter, more rounded Old Tom profile to express itself fully. The Robert Burnett name was once a fixture behind bars across the British Empire, and this bottle is a reminder of that legacy.
Best Served
If I were fortunate enough to pour from this bottle, I'd keep things reverential — a classic Tom Collins with fresh lemon juice, a restrained hand on the sugar syrup (the Old Tom sweetness does much of the work), and a long pour of chilled soda. Garnish with a lemon wheel and serve over clear, hand-cut ice. History in a glass.
I'm giving this a 7.8 out of 10. The score reflects the extraordinary historical significance and the collectible nature of a 1947 bottling, tempered only by the reality that without confirmed provenance on the botanicals and distillery, some questions remain unanswered. For the historian and the cocktail enthusiast alike, though, this is a bottle worth celebrating.
