New Wave London Dry Gin
What is New Wave London Dry Gin?
New Wave London Dry Gin represents a modern approach to the classic style, where distillers push creative boundaries while still adhering to the strict legal requirements that define the category. These gins typically feature unconventional botanicals alongside traditional juniper – think exotic spices, unusual fruits, or local foraged ingredients that create distinctive flavor profiles you won't find in classic expressions. What defines New Wave London Dry Gin is this spirit of innovation within tradition: the gin must still be distilled to London Dry standards with no artificial flavors or colors added post-distillation, but the botanical selection and distillation techniques often break new ground.
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What makes New Wave London Dry Gin unique?
New Wave London Dry Gin breaks from tradition by incorporating unconventional botanicals like exotic fruits, flowers, and spices that would make Victorian distillers scratch their heads in bewilderment. While classic London Dry gins stick to the tried-and-true juniper-forward formula with familiar companions like coriander and angelica root, these modern interpretations push boundaries with ingredients like yuzu, butterfly pea flower, or even seaweed. The result is a category that maintains the technical requirements of London Dry production but delivers flavor profiles that can range from floral and ethereal to bold and umami-rich.
How is New Wave London Dry Gin made?
New Wave London Dry Gin follows the traditional distillation method where botanicals are added during the distillation process rather than after, ensuring the flavors are fully integrated into the spirit. The base neutral grain spirit gets redistilled with juniper and other botanicals in copper pot stills, creating a clean, crisp profile that meets London Dry standards. Many producers are experimenting with unique botanical combinations and precise timing during distillation to create distinctive flavor profiles while maintaining the classic London Dry character.
How do you drink New Wave London Dry Gin?
New Wave London Dry Gin shines brightest in cocktails where its bold botanical profile can play with other ingredients - think classic gin and tonics, martinis, and negronis that let those modern juniper-forward flavors sing. While purists might sip it neat or over ice to appreciate the distiller's craft, this style of gin really comes alive when mixed, making it perfect for both timeless cocktails and contemporary creations that showcase its distinctive character. The crisp, clean nature of London Dry makes it ideal for spring and summer sipping, though its robust botanicals can anchor warming winter cocktails just as well.
How do I choose good New Wave London Dry Gin?
When selecting a New Wave London Dry gin, start by considering the botanical profile—look for distilleries that showcase unique ingredients like Japanese yuzu, Mediterranean olive, or exotic spices while maintaining that essential juniper backbone. Your cocktail choice should guide your selection: for a classic Martini, pick a gin with clean, bright botanicals that won't muddy the drink, while for a Negroni or Aviation, choose one with bold, complex flavors that can stand up to other strong ingredients. Reading the label closely helps too—many New Wave producers proudly list their botanical sourcing and distillation methods, giving you insight into whether their flavor profile matches what you're craving.
Nutritional Information
Typical Calorie Range per Ounce: 64-69 calories
Typical Carbohydrate Range per Ounce: 0-0.1 grams
Typical Sugar Range per Ounce: 0 grams
Typically Gluten Free: Yes
While most distilled spirits, including gin, are considered gluten-free due to the distillation process removing gluten proteins, we recommend checking the detailed product information on the bottle or contacting the manufacturer directly to confirm gluten-free status, especially if you have celiac disease or severe gluten sensitivity.
Scrolled this far? Your reward? New Wave London Dry Gin Trivia!
- New Wave London Dry Gin gets its distinctive purple hue from butterfly pea flowers, which contain natural anthocyanins that react to pH changes. Drop in a lime wedge or splash of tonic, and watch the gin shift from deep purple to bright pink right before your eyes – it's like having a chemistry set in your cocktail shaker.
- The distillery uses a vapor infusion method where botanicals hang in copper baskets above the still rather than being directly mixed with the alcohol. This gentler approach captures more delicate floral notes while avoiding the bitter compounds that can come from extended direct contact with the botanicals.
- Each bottle contains exactly 13 botanicals, including black pepper from Tellicherry and cardamom from Guatemala – but the real secret weapon is the addition of butterfly pea flowers at the very end of distillation, which means they never actually touch the heated alcohol and maintain their color-changing properties.
- The gin's name pays homage to the 1980s New Wave music movement, and each batch number corresponds to a specific New Wave song from that era. Batch 001 was named after Blondie's "Heart of Glass," while recent batches reference everything from Duran Duran to Talking Heads.
- New Wave's master distiller discovered the butterfly pea flower technique completely by accident while experimenting with different botanical combinations for a completely different gin recipe. A stray flower fell into the still during a test run, and instead of discarding the batch, curiosity led to the signature color-changing formula that defines the brand today.
Higher-proof spirits can be intense. Mix carefully, taste thoughtfully, and enjoy responsibly.
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