A History of Gordon’s Gin
Travel Distilled brings you a history of Gordon’s Gin, the iconic London dry gin that was founded in 1769 in London and now made in Scotland.
Gordon’s Gin is an iconic British brand of London dry gin, renowned worldwide. With a distinctive flavor that has garnered fervent admiration since the 18th century, the illustrious history of Gordon’s Gin exemplifies the enduring power of tradition and the crucial influence of continuous innovation.
History of Gordon’s Gin
Alexander Gordon, a native of Scotland, launched Gordon’s Gin in 1769. Gordon, fueled by his spirit of exploration and innovation, settled in London and laid the foundation for what would become the world’s bestselling London Dry gin.
Gordon believed that success in distillation lay in the rigorous selection and combination of pure distilled grains and a blend of botanicals. This foundational philosophy of unwavering quality endures even today. The core ingredients—juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root, and licorice—impart a distinct flavor to Gordon’s Gin that is harmonious and universally loved.
By the early 19th century, Gordon’s Gin had cemented its reputation. In 1832, under the King’s permission, the distinctive Gordon’s Gin stamp, an icon of quality assurance, began gracing the bottles.
New Column Still
Following the Industrial Revolution, Gordon’s introduced a new column still for continuous distillation in 1865. Named ‘Old Tom’, it superseded the traditional pot stills that required intermittent cleaning. This innovative adaptation highlighted the brand’s adaptability to embrace modern production methods without compromising the quality of the final product.
Distinctive Green Bottle
The company introduced the distinctive green bottle in 1898, enhancing its iconic branding. This milestone coincided with Gordon’s growth into an international market. During the 20th century, as air travel started taking off, Gordon’s leveraged it and entered the aviation industry, marking another revolutionary phase in its evolution.
James Bond
By the 1920s and 30s, the company’s global marketing strategy catapulted Gordon’s to new heights. Its popularity was affirmed when the author Ian Fleming selected Gordon’s as James Bond’s gin of choice in the novel “Live and Let Die.”
New Distilleries
In 1934 Gordon’s opened its first distillery in the USA, at Linden in New Jersey. In 1984 British production was moved to Laindon in Essex, and then in 1998 production was moved to Fife in Scotland, where it remains.
As Gordon’s evolved through the ages, so too did the consumer palette, prompting the brand to innovate beyond its classic product. In 2017, they responded to the rising popularity of flavoured gins by launching Gordon’s Pink Gin, drawing inspiration from an original Gordon’s recipe dating back to the 1880s. The sweet and tangy profile from the mix of red berries added another successful chapter to the Gordon’s saga.
Gordon’s RTD
Another strategic adaptation of the brand was the launch of its gin in ready-to-drink formats. These offerings came as canned mixers and have helped broaden Gordon’s Gin’s consumer reach.
The legacy of Gordon’s Gin as a beacon of distillation mastery owes itself to the company’s continual dedication to quality and innovative approach. For over two and a half centuries, the spirit of Alexander Gordon’s vision lives on in each glass of Gordon’s, underscoring its longstanding position as the world’s leading gin brand.
From its origin in 1769 to today, Gordon’s has both shaped and responded to the market trends, reaffirming its commitment to maintaining its essence while pushing the boundaries of possibility. As its slogan professes, it’s indeed ‘the heart of a good cocktail.’
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