First Impressions
Sir Robin of Locksley takes its name from the legendary outlaw of Sherwood Forest — Robin Hood himself, if you prefer his more romantic alias. The gin is made by Locksley Distilling Co. in Sheffield, a city not traditionally associated with gin production but one that has embraced the craft spirits movement with characteristic Yorkshire determination. The botanical bill includes dandelion — a wild plant that connects the gin to the Sherwood Forest mythology of its namesake — alongside pink grapefruit, elderflower, and the expected juniper and spice supporting cast.
It is a gin that wears its story well without letting the narrative overshadow the liquid. At 40.5%, it is bottled at a strength that suggests the distillers found a specific sweet spot for their botanical expression.
The Distillery
Locksley Distilling Co. operates in Sheffield, producing small-batch gin in copper pot stills. The eight-botanical bill is thoughtfully composed: juniper provides the gin's backbone, cassia bark contributes warm cinnamon spice, coriander seed and angelica root add earthy complexity, liquorice root brings subtle sweetness, elderflower provides floral lift, dandelion introduces an unusual herbaceous note, and pink grapefruit delivers the citrus character that defines much of the drinking experience.
The dandelion is the botanical that distinguishes Sir Robin from the crowd. It contributes a herbier, slightly bitter quality that is difficult to replicate with any other ingredient — a wild, meadow-like note that lives up to the outlaw branding.
Tasting
The nose is clean and inviting. Pine-forward juniper leads, properly defined and assertive, with sweet lemon and grapefruit rinds providing immediate citrus brightness. Elderflower adds delicate floral notes, and coriander contributes a warm spiciness. The dandelion reveals itself as a herbier tone underneath — not dominant, but present and interesting, adding a green, meadow-like quality that gives the nose an unusual outdoorsy character.
On the palate, the gin is deliciously smooth and round — noticeably so. Warm cassia notes provide a comforting spice that is soothed by the dandelion's gentle herbaceousness. Pink grapefruit adds an underlying sweetness and a lingering citrus quality that becomes one of the gin's most appealing characteristics. A dash of crisp juniper comes first before the citrus elements strongly take centre stage, with grapefruit and lemon coming through with generous brightness. The mouthfeel is full and satisfying.
The finish is long, deep, slightly spicy, and enticing. The cassia warmth persists alongside the grapefruit's sweetness, and the dandelion adds a faintly bitter, herbal quality that keeps the finish interesting rather than simply sweet. It is a finish that invites another sip.
How to Drink It
The pink grapefruit character makes Sir Robin a natural for a G&T with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and a thick slice of grapefruit. The citrus-on-citrus pairing amplifies the gin's strongest quality, and the tonic provides the bitter backbone that the gin's relatively soft character benefits from.
In cocktails, it makes an excellent Greyhound — gin and grapefruit juice — where the pink grapefruit botanical creates a wonderful harmony with the mixer. The elderflower also makes it suitable for a Gin & Elderflower Fizz, topped with prosecco.
The Bottom Line
Sir Robin of Locksley earns a 7.5 for delivering a smooth, citrus-forward gin with a genuinely distinctive botanical — the dandelion adds a herbaceous complexity that few gins attempt and even fewer achieve convincingly. The pink grapefruit dominates the flavour profile in the most appealing way, and the cassia spice provides warmth and depth. The Sherwood Forest branding is charming rather than gimmicky, and the Sheffield distillery brings a workmanlike quality to the production. A gin that steals from the ordinary and gives to the adventurous.
