Beefeater is the top gin brand in the world, but that does not stop it from looking at world trends in drinking and leisure to address consumer demand for gin. Gin has a rich history, and Beefeater’s Master Distiller Desmond Payne, MBE, brings both tradition and innovation to Beefeater, the gin category and the way people drink gin.
How does the saying go? History might not repeat, but it rhymes. This time it is different. Well, these days, it is more like “I’m drinking my grandfather’s spirits, not my fathers.”
There have been references to juniper being administered to cure ailments dating back to ancient times; it was once thought to be a cure for jaundice! As time moved on, there was a gin craze that took hold back in 1720. James Burrough launched the infamous Beefeater Dry Gin in 1876 (he lived in Toronto for several years before that). In 1987, Sydney Frank launched Bombay Sapphire, bringing gin back into the mix – as it were. Today, gin is everywhere, gaining popularity and innovation.
Pink & Tonic
1.5 oz Beefeater Pink
3 oz Fevertree pink aromatic tonic
Fresh strawberries & dehydrated grapefruit slice
Build ingredients in glass over cubed ice and gently stir to combine.
When the opportunity presented itself to meet and to listen to Desmond Payne speak and introduce the new Beefeater Pink Gin, it could not be passed. With just over 50-years of experience, Payne has worked for two major Gin producers (Plymouth and Beefeater), created several new gin products, including the Beefeater 24 and now the Beefeater Pink.
In Beefeater’s making, the classic recipe is made with nine botanicals that are steeped for 24-hours and then distilled. Juniper is the most significant ingredient, coriander seed, Seville orange peel, lemon peel, angelica seed and angelica root (provides earthy dryness), liquorice root, almond, and orris root seed – which holds together the flavour and particularly the perfume industry also uses the aroma with Chanel being the largest buyer.
Cotton Candy Berry Sour
50 ml Beefeater Pink
25 ml aqua fava
25 ml lemon juice
20 ml cotton candy
Dry shake/wet shake and fine strain into glass.
The Beefeater Pink is pink in colour (obviously) and has a strawberry flavour. Distilled spirits are clear, so natural colour must be added to the final distillate. Also, since soft fruits do not distill, but rather ferment, you need to add fresh, natural flavour for stability. Although gin has flavours, it is not generally a sipping spirit; it is a mixing spirit.
Pink Peppercorn Rose
50 ml Beefeater Pink
12.5 ml peppercorn syrup
50 ml rosé wine
50 ml white grape juice
10 ml tonic water
Combine the rosé, gin, white grape juice and pink peppercorn syrup in a carafe.
Stir until incorporated and top with the tonic water, taste for balance, and give the mixture a gentle stir.
Prep individual glasses with ice cubes and peppercorns; and garnish with lemon peel skewers and edible flowers.
The Beefeater Pink pairs well with tonics and other basic ingredients for your cocktail enjoyment. Look for it at your local purveyor of fine wine and spirits!
Author Profile
- Gerald is a whisky and spirits connoisseur who has been writing, educating, and championing the industry’s finest for many years. His dedication to the whisky industry inspires international travel to historic locations, like Scotland and Ireland, where he attends exclusive events, private tastings at renowned whisky distilleries and festivals. Passionate about luxury, Gerald enjoys whiling away the hours at the world's leading art galleries and occasionally engaging in a rousing game of squash. Follow him on IG: @g2whisky
