London Dry vs. Contemporary Gin — Which Style Is Right for You?

Gin's core legal requirement is simple: it must be a spirit in which juniper is the predominant botanical flavor. Everything else is up for interpretation, and the results range from austere and piney to floral, fruity, and barely reminiscent of traditional gin at all. The two most useful categories for navigating the market are London Dry and contemporary (sometimes called "New Western" or "New Wave") gin.

London Dry is a style defined by its production method rather than its geography — it can be made anywhere in the world. The key constraints are that no artificial flavorings or sweeteners can be added after distillation, and that juniper must be clearly identifiable as the leading flavor. This produces a spirit that's typically drier, more herbal, and more aromatic than modern alternatives. Tanqueray and Beefeater are the canonical examples: clean, juniper-forward, and built for cocktails. Gordon's is the approachable everyday option. For something more complex within the London Dry tradition, look at Sipsmith, which helped spark the craft gin revival in the UK, or Hayman's, which makes meticulous historically-inspired expressions.

Contemporary gins take the juniper requirement as a floor rather than a ceiling, choosing to foreground other botanicals — citrus peels, cucumber, rose, lavender, cardamom, and dozens more. Hendrick's, with its rose and cucumber profile, was the gin that first introduced many drinkers to this style, and it remains one of the most recognizable bottles on any back bar. Monkey 47 from Germany's Black Forest takes the opposite approach, cramming 47 botanicals into a single bottle with extraordinary complexity. For the most extreme departure from tradition, "Old Tom" and "Navy Strength" gins offer sweeter and higher-proof versions respectively, while Japanese gins like Ki No Bi bring entirely different cultural sensibilities to the botanical mix.