A lovely gin from Ableforth’s, the in-house spirits company at whisky-sellers extraordinaire, Master of Malt.

This time round they’ve recreated an old-fashioned style of gin that was much loved in the 18th and 19th centuries (and which has begun to see something of a revival in the current cocktail Renaissance): Old Tom!

Old Tom is so called because after the backlash towards gin following the London Gin Craze, certain gin-sellers began to hide their practice by distributing their wares through an unusual system. The gin shop would place a statue or plaque of a tom cat on the wall, to which the customer would say “Puss, give me two pennyworth of gin” and place the money in the cat’s mouth. A small pipe was fitted under the paw of the cat which would pour out the gin!

Old Tom gin is a sweeter style that was preferred for many of the classic cocktails (the Martinez, the Martini, and the Tom Collins – which takes its name from this gin style). Bathtub Old Tom stays true to the spirit’s roots, serving up sweet notes of gin botanicals, fruity juniper, citrus peppery spice and orange juice.

Bottled at the higher proof of 42.4% ABV, this works brilliantly all number of gin cocktails, but it particularly shines in a Martinez cocktails, which it originally designed for.

A historic gin full of flavour.

• Distillery / brand
  Professor Cornelius Ampleforth
• Country
  England
• SKU
  031939