There's something undeniably striking about The London No.1 Original Blue Gin. That distinctive blue hue — a signature that's made this bottle instantly recognisable on back bars around the world — sets the stage for what is a well-constructed London Dry at a solid 43% ABV. It's a gin that commands attention before you've even poured it.
Style & Character
As a London Dry, The London No.1 plays by the classic rules: juniper-forward by definition, with a clean distillation profile that speaks to careful technique. At 43%, it sits in that sweet spot where you get enough body and botanical delivery without the spirit heat overwhelming the conversation. This is a gin built for balance rather than brute force, and I appreciate that restraint. The blue colour, while eye-catching, tells us something about the production process — it's a deliberate stylistic choice that has helped define this brand's identity in an increasingly crowded market.
Behind the Bottle
What I find interesting about The London No.1 is how it bridges the gap between classic gin tradition and modern presentation. It doesn't try to reinvent the wheel with avant-garde botanicals or extreme flavour profiles. Instead, it leans into the London Dry heritage with confidence. At £37.25, it's positioned in the mid-premium bracket — you're paying partly for that iconic bottle, but the liquid inside holds its own respectably. I'd score this a 7.4 out of 10: a reliable, well-made gin that delivers on its London Dry promise without quite reaching the heights of the category's very best.
Best Served
This is a gin that shines in a classic Martini — I'd go with a 4:1 ratio with a quality dry vermouth, stirred for a full 30 seconds over large ice cubes, then strained into a chilled coupe. A lemon twist expressed over the surface catches the light beautifully against that blue tint. For something longer, a straightforward G&T with a premium Indian tonic and a grapefruit wheel makes for an effortlessly elegant serve.
