How to serve and enjoy Old Tom gin?
Serve Old Tom gin over ice to sip, in a Tom Collins, or in a Martinez. It is a sweeter style of gin, so it needs less added sugar than London dry. Keep the bottle in a cool, dark place and taste before adding sweeteners.
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In this article
How do you serve Old Tom gin?
Old Tom is a sweeter, rounder style of gin. Difford’s Guide calls it a sweet or cordial gin, so it behaves differently from London dry in drinks.
Best ways to enjoy it
- Neat or over ice: Cotswolds Distillery describes its Old Tom as a sweet, spicy, warming gin that can be sipped neat. Use one large cube so it dilutes slowly.
- Tom Collins: Old Tom, soda water, lemon juice and a small amount of sugar syrup, served tall over ice.
- Gin and tonic: works well with a dry or slimline tonic to balance the sweetness.
- Martinez: stirred with sweet vermouth, maraschino liqueur and bitters, following a trusted recipe.
How to balance sweetness
- Taste the gin first to see how sweet that brand is.
- Use less sugar syrup than a recipe for London dry would call for.
- Add acid such as fresh lemon juice or a citrus twist.
What does it taste like?
It varies by brand. The Cotswolds version has sweet liquorice root, light ginger spice, orange citrus, cardamom and caraway seeds (part of its development). Other makers use different botanicals.
Storage
Keep the bottle upright, tightly closed, in a cool and dark spot. This is general guidance for spirits.
Food pairings
Sweet-spiced gins often suit desserts, citrus dishes or salty snacks. This is a matter of taste rather than a rule.
Common mistakes
- Adding the full amount of syrup that a London dry recipe uses.
- Using flat tonic or small, fast-melting ice.
Drink responsibly and only if you are of legal age.
People also ask
Can you drink Old Tom gin neat?
Yes. Some makers describe their Old Tom as sweet and warming enough to sip neat or over ice.
What mixer goes with Old Tom gin?
Soda water in a Tom Collins, or a dry tonic to balance sweetness.
Is Old Tom sweeter than London dry?
Yes. London dry allows no more than 0.1 grams of sweetener per liter, while Old Tom is a sweetened style.
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