Jensen’s Gin has been on my radar for quite some time, but I’ve recently been drinking it more frequently and truly appreciating what does – and maybe more what doesn’t – go into this balanced gin.
Inspired by vintage gins- interestingly discovered while working in Japan – Christian Jensen aimed to re-create a gin in the simpler, more delicate style of the mid-20th century. The recipe and the integrity of 
the gin is carried on by Dr. Anne Brock, master distiller, who has a doctorate in organic chemistry. Although it honors history with the gin, Jensen’s was quite the trailblazer as only the sixth distillery to open in London since 2008, at the very beginning of the gin revival.
Jensen’s makes two gins – the Bermondsey Dry and the Old Tom, both made from a wheat base, classic gin botanicals, and clocking in at 43% alcohol by volume.
Tasting Notes
The Bermondsey Dry, while classified as a London Dry, is lighter in juniper than many of those known on the market today, like Beefeater or Tanqueray. The nose is floral and citrusy with slight juniper. The taste has a natural, light sweetness with a smooth mouthfeel and a slightly hot finish. Per usual blog tastings, we tried this neat, with tonic, and in a Negroni, my favorite cocktail. I felt the tonic was a bit overwhelming for this gin – I tasted more of the quinine than the lovely notes of the gin. And the Negroni was perfectly drinkable, but the delicateness of the Jensen’s had a hard time standing up to the bitter of the Campari. I realized, while trying this in the three iterations, that the Bermondsey Dry is meant to be served up, in a very chilled martini with a lemon twist. I fully believe what makes this gin shine, is its delicate, balanced notes. In the wrong cocktail, this uniqueness is lost.
The Jensen’s Old Tom also has a great history, the recipe found in a handwritten distiller’s notebook from the 1840s. Interestingly, the usual hallmark of the Old Tom style is the addition of sugar, but in Jensen’s case, the gin is unsweetened; yet still has a subtle sweetness to it. This gin smells quite fragrant and more complex than the Dry. Once again, I felt the tonic overwhelmed the delicate notes of the gin. In my notes, I had written, “…not loving what tonic does…the gin is so clean and pure that the tonic is diluting/masking…can’t enjoy it as much.” Likewise, the Negroni was drinkable, but doesn’t allow the gin to sing. Again, I would drink this in a martini, or over ice.
The Bottom Line
I got so excited talking about the fine floral notes of this gin in a martini that I just made one! If you love martinis, this is a great gin for you. If you love martinis and don’t want a huge juniper bomb, this is an even better gin for you. Both gins retail for approximately $33. Cheers!
