There is a particular confidence required to bottle a gin at 57% ABV. Navy Strength is not a category that forgives timidity — it demands a recipe robust enough to hold its own at proof, where every botanical decision is amplified and any imbalance laid bare. Tarquin's Cornish Navy Strength Gin meets that challenge with considerable assurance, delivering a spirit that feels both powerful and remarkably poised.
A Cornish Distillery With Serious Pedigree
Tarquin's Cornish Gin Distillery has earned its reputation through careful, small-batch craft, and this Navy Strength expression is a testament to that philosophy. At 57% ABV, it sits squarely within the traditional definition of Navy Strength — the proof at which gunpowder would still ignite if doused with the spirit. It is a standard born of practicality aboard Royal Navy vessels, and one that continues to separate serious gins from the merely ambitious.
Botanical Architecture
The botanical bill here is generous but considered. A core of juniper, coriander seed, angelica root, and orris root provides the structural backbone one expects from a well-made gin, while fresh orange zest, lemon peel, and grapefruit peel introduce a layered citrus character that should serve the higher ABV well — bright enough to cut through the spirit's considerable weight. Green cardamom and cinnamon add warming spice notes without, I suspect, dominating the blend. The more distinctive inclusions — Devon violets, elderflower, and liquorice root — are what give this gin its personality. The violets in particular are a signature of the Tarquin's range, lending a floral dimension that tempers the muscularity of a Navy Strength pour. Liquorice root, meanwhile, offers a subtle sweetness and textural roundness that can be invaluable at this proof.
Where It Sits in the Category
Navy Strength gins live or die by their balance. The higher alcohol can magnify harshness just as readily as it amplifies complexity, and the best examples manage to feel bold without becoming aggressive. With twelve botanicals working in concert at 57%, Tarquin's has the hallmarks of a Navy Strength that rewards attention — one where the proof enhances the botanical expression rather than overwhelming it. At £42, it represents fair value for a gin of this calibre and strength.
Best Served
A gin of this intensity is a natural Martini spirit. I would reach for a 3:1 ratio with a quality dry vermouth, stirred long and served with a twist of grapefruit peel to echo the citrus in the botanical blend. It also holds its own beautifully in a Negroni, where the additional proof ensures the gin is not lost beneath the Campari. For a G&T, pair with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and a sprig of fresh thyme — the herbal note complements the juniper and allows the floral character room to breathe.
