'The Missing Link' Old Tom Gin

Our brand new gin, 'The Missing Link' is a collaboration with Tarquin Leadbetter - the living legend of the Cornish gin scene. When we sat down to hatch a plan with Tarquin and his team we were determined to create something a bit different. We set our ambitions higher than arriving at a new set of botanicals for a London Dry style gin - we decided to revive a little bit of gin history. We set out to make an 'Old Tom' style gin.

Drier than Dutch Jenever that preceded it – sweeter than London Dry that followed it, the ‘Old Tom’ style is known as the missing link in the evolution of gin and its history runs back right to the gin craze of the 18th Century, the wild excesses that followed and the ban that ensued.

Following the Gin Act ban of 1738, rebellious landlords hung plaques in the shape of a black cat to signal their defiance of the ban. Shots of what became known as ‘Old Tom’ were dispensed to drunkards on the street through a pipe under the plaque.

Named 'The Missing Link' as a nod to its place in history but revived in a more refined form, our Old Tom is incredibly smooth with pronounced flavours of orange and juniper. Sweetened slightly with Cornish honey, The Missing Link is delicious served neat over ice, it has the intensity of flavour to carry through when served as a high ball with soda water, it makes the perfect G&T (especially when served with a short measure of tonic) and it lends cocktails a feline presence. In fact The Missing Link is so versatile that it even makes the perfect hot toddy!*

* 50ml of gin, 25ml of our new Bermondsey tonic syrup, top with hot water and add a slice of orange. You'll never look at mulled wine again...