Well-balanced and dominant flavor of juniper, spicy fresh hints of citrus and floral notes. The added sweetness gives things an interesting twist – it brings out the flavors and has a longer finish.
How did Old Tom Gin get its name? Like stories about many cocktails and spirits, no one knows the exact answer…
We go back to 18th century England when gin was consumed in copious amounts. The British government tried several times to restrict the flow of gin by charging high fees and taxes to be allowed to produce and sell gin. To avoid the tax, pub owners began selling gin from wooden signs shaped like a black cat – a so-called Old Tom – from the outside wall of the pub. After a coin was deposited in the cat’s mouth, the barman from the other side poured a measure of gin through a tube at the cat’s paw.
The distillation at this time was not the best, and to hide the worst of the fennel taste, sugar was added. Turpentine was sometimes added to fake the taste of juniper and sulfuric acid to give the diluted spirit a more pungent taste.
But today we don’t sweeten gin to hide flavors or serve gin through a black sign shaped like a cat – but to highlight juniper, floral notes and make the gin even smoother.
SIGNATURE SERVE
This is how we serve a Gin & Tonic with our Old Tom Gin.
Recipe:
• 5cl Lydén Distillery Old Tom Gin
• 10cl Indian Tonic
• Lemon zest
How to make it:
Start with filling your favorite glass with allot of ice. Then pour the Old Tom Gin. Fill the glass with a neutral tonic and finish lemon zest.
Serve and enjoy!