Edinburgh Cannonball Navy Strength Gin arrives with a name that leaves little to the imagination. At 57.2% ABV, it sits squarely within the Navy Strength designation — that historic proof point once demanded by the Royal Navy to ensure gunpowder would still ignite if doused with spirit. It is a category I hold in particular regard, and one that demands a distiller's full command of their craft. At this strength, there is nowhere to hide.
Style & Character
The Cannonball branding signals intent: this is a gin built for impact. Navy Strength expressions must deliver robust juniper character and structural backbone without descending into harshness, and the best examples in the category achieve a remarkable balance between power and poise. Edinburgh has form in this space, and the 57.2% ABV — marginally above the 57% minimum — suggests a distillate bottled with confidence rather than pushed to extremes.
In the Glass
Without confirmed botanical details, I approach this gin on its own terms. What I can say is that the higher proof amplifies every element of the distillate. The juniper must do the heavy lifting at this strength, and a well-constructed Navy Strength will reward that intensity with layers of spice, citrus, and resinous depth that a standard-strength gin simply cannot achieve. This is precisely the kind of expression that reveals its full character when diluted with tonic or stirred into a Martini.
Best Served
A gin of this calibre and strength is tailor-made for a Navy Strength Negroni, where its elevated proof cuts through the Campari and sweet vermouth with authority. Equally, a simple G&T with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and a twist of grapefruit peel will let the spirit's intensity speak for itself. At £39.25, it represents fair value for a Navy Strength of this pedigree — a worthy addition to any serious gin collection.
