Tanqueray No. Ten is one of those bottles that earns its place on the back bar through sheer dependability. Named after the No. Ten still at the Tanqueray distillery — a small-batch copper pot still that gives this expression its distinctive character — it sits firmly in the London Dry category but pushes the boundaries of what that style can achieve. At 47.3% ABV, it carries real weight, and that higher proof is doing important work: it gives the botanicals room to express themselves fully without ever tipping into harshness.
Style & Character
What sets No. Ten apart from the classic Tanqueray expression is its reputation for fresh citrus at the core of the botanical bill. Where standard Tanqueray leans into that dry, juniper-forward architecture that made it a bartender's staple, No. Ten brings a brighter, more aromatic quality that has made it a modern classic in its own right. It's a gin that feels crafted with cocktails in mind — there's a sophistication here that rewards thoughtful mixing rather than simply drowning it in tonic.
At £35.50, you're paying a modest premium over the standard expression, and I think it's entirely justified. This is a bottle that punches consistently above its price point. It won't rewrite your understanding of gin, but it will reliably deliver a polished, well-constructed spirit every single time you reach for it. That kind of consistency is genuinely hard to achieve, and it's why No. Ten remains a fixture in serious bars worldwide. A well-earned 7.5 out of 10.
Best Served
This is a gin that was born to make a stunning Negroni — its citrus brightness lifts the vermouth and Campari beautifully. Equal parts No. Ten, Carpano Antica Formula, and Campari, stirred over a large ice cube and garnished with a fresh grapefruit twist rather than the traditional orange. The grapefruit echoes the citrus character in the gin and creates something genuinely special.
