Tarquin's has earned a formidable reputation among Britain's new wave of craft distillers, and their Seadog Navy Strength Gin is a bold statement of intent. At 57% ABV, this sits squarely within the Navy Strength category — a classification that demands not only higher proof but the character and balance to carry it. That is no small ask, and it is where many distillers falter. Tarquin's, to their credit, do not.
Style & Category
Navy Strength gin has its roots in the Royal Navy's insistence that spirits stored alongside gunpowder must be proof enough not to prevent ignition — traditionally 100° proof, or 57% ABV. It is a category I hold in particular regard, because it leaves a distiller nowhere to hide. Every botanical decision, every cut point in the distillation, is amplified at this strength. A well-made Navy Strength should feel muscular yet composed, delivering intensity without aggression.
Tarquin's Seadog carries itself with exactly that kind of confidence. The higher ABV gives the botanical profile a commanding presence, and the Tarquin's house style — which has always leaned towards a certain coastal freshness — translates naturally into this bolder format. This is a gin built for purpose: structured enough to hold its own in a Negroni, punchy enough to cut through tonic without losing definition.
Best Served
I would reach for this in a classic Navy Strength Martini — stirred, dry, with a twist of lemon peel. The extra proof carries beautifully through the vermouth. Equally, a robust G&T with Fever-Tree Indian Tonic and a grapefruit slice lets the Seadog show its teeth. At 8.1 out of 10, this is a thoroughly convincing Navy Strength from a distillery that continues to impress.
