There are gins that speak of laboratories and precision, and then there are gins that speak of place. Masons Tea Edition Dry Yorkshire Gin belongs firmly in the latter camp — a London Dry that wears its county on its sleeve and its tea leaves, one suspects, close to its heart.
A Yorkshire Spirit, Steeped in Tradition
The concept is disarmingly simple: take the backbone of a well-constructed London Dry and thread it through with the tannin-rich character of tea. It's the kind of idea that could only come from a nation that considers the kettle an essential appliance. At 42% ABV, Masons have pitched this at a confident but approachable strength — enough to carry the botanical payload without overwhelming the delicate, tannic interplay that tea demands.
What strikes me about this gin is its ambition to bridge two of Britain's great drinking traditions. Tea-infused gins can stumble into novelty, but the London Dry classification here is telling. It suggests discipline in the distillation, a commitment to juniper-forward architecture even as the tea brings its own leafy complexity to the proceedings. This is not a flavoured gin masquerading as something more serious — it's a proper dry gin with a distinctive point of view.
At £35.25, it sits comfortably in the mid-range, and I think it earns its place there. It's a gin with genuine character, one that rewards attention without demanding reverence. A score of 7.8 feels right — accomplished and distinctive, with room to surprise.
Best served on a grey afternoon that calls for comfort: long with a quality Indian tonic, a fine curl of lemon peel, and perhaps the quiet satisfaction of a ritual observed.
