Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength Gin

Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength Gin shines in classic stirred cocktails where its bold juniper and spice character can stand up to vermouth and bitters, though it's equally at home in citrus-forward shaken drinks that benefit from its higher proof and peppery backbone. Its robust profile makes it a year-round choice, pairing beautifully with oysters, smoked salmon, or sharp cheeses that complement its clean, botanical intensity.

Nose: Bright juniper leads, sharp and resinous like crushing pine needles between your fingers. Black pepper and cassia bark add a warm spice layer that reminds you of cinnamon sticks but with more bite. Fresh citrus zest—orange and lemon—cuts through cleanly. There's a subtle earthiness underneath, like wet roots after rain, along with hints of coriander seed and a faint sweetness from licorice.

Palate: The higher proof delivers immediate intensity. Juniper hits first, bold and piney, followed quickly by peppery heat from cassia and nutmeg that warms the tongue. Citrus oils coat your mouth—bitter orange peel and lemon zest—while angelica root adds an herbal, slightly medicinal quality. The texture is oily and substantial. Coriander brings a light floral note, and there's a touch of anise sweetness balancing the spice. Clean and crisp throughout.

Finish: Long and dry with lingering white pepper and juniper. The spice fades slowly, leaving behind citrus peel bitterness and a cooling effect from the high-purity Icelandic water. A slight numbing sensation on the tongue, like you've been chewing peppercorns. The finish stays clean without becoming astringent, with faint traces of nutmeg and orris root appearing at the very end.

Martin Miller's Westbourne Strength Gin is crafted using a unique two-stage distillation process where the earthier botanicals (juniper, angelica, orris) are distilled separately from the citrus peels, then blended together before being shipped all the way to Iceland, where it's cut with exceptionally pure Icelandic spring water—a quirky but effective choice that gives this gin its remarkably clean, crisp finish.

• This gin makes a round trip from England to Iceland just to meet its water—after distillation in England, the entire spirit is shipped to Iceland where it's blended with spring water so pure and low in minerals that it was formed from snow that fell before the Industrial Revolution. That's right: your gin is cut with pre-pollution precipitation.
• The "Westbourne" name honors Westbourne Grove in London's Notting Hill, where the original Martin Miller's Gin was conceived in the late 1990s over dinners at a local restaurant. The street itself sits above a long-lost river—the Westbourne—that now flows in a pipe above the platforms of Sloane Square tube station, making this gin a tribute to both visible and hidden London waterways.
• Bartenders around the world specifically requested this stronger, spicier version because the original Martin Miller's was too smooth for certain classic cocktails—they needed something with more backbone to stand up to vermouth in Martinis and other spirit-forward drinks. It's one of the few times a brand created a product because professionals asked for a less refined version of their masterpiece.