I mixed up a few gin and tonics with Fifty Pounds Gin: very acidic with a lot of bite and tang. I really felt it needed the lime to add some sweetness to balance out the flavor, I really thought it was a touch too dry and almost plain without the lime. That touch of sweetness was needed. Citrus and juniper come out most intensely, although not as distinct individual components. Almost a general gin flavor. Brisk, but less refreshing.

So: the story of the name. Feel free to read more on it if you’re curious, but here’s the lowdown: At one point during the early 1700s, Gin was basically the Fentanyl of England. Lax production laws meant that people were putting all sorts of adulterants into it to lower the price (sulfuric acid, anyone?), and in a well-publicized story, a woman literally killed her kid, sold his clothes, and bought gin with the proceeds. Prince Charles is said to be partial to a wet martini. An elegant and refined little drink. So simple your housekeeper can take the evening off.

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This list really is endless – there’s an excellent selection of Indian tonic waters and flavoured tonics out there, and many pair well with classic gins like Fifty Pounds. To really understand the differences in flavour, compare tonics on their own. This will help you to find the best choices for your palate. We love exploring the botanical combinations of new gins, so why not give the same attention to mixers, especially when they do contribute a lot to the drink itself. Fifty Pounds Gin is a London gin. That’s not because it’s where we make it. London Gin is a defined style, where the predominant flavour must be juniper and its flavour must come from the distillation process – you can’t add flavours, or colour, after distillation. The brief, Charles explains, was to create a traditional London gin with a good citrus component as well as some spice, that would first and foremost make an excellent G&T. In many way the ultimate royal drink, beloved by the monarchy for decades and enjoyed by everyone from the Queen Mother to the Duchess of Cambridge. It doesn’t get more English. Allegedly one of Prince Edward’s favourite drinks, we’ve substituted vodka for the eminently more British gin. The perfect way to refresh after a raucous night at Balmoral.

British sailors famously received a daily rum ration. It was worth working for promotion however as British naval officers got a daily ration of gin. The rise of the “balloon glass” – the “copa” – originates in Spain. The point of the glass is to hold more ice. Contrary to what you might expect, the more ice there is, the less it will melt and dilute the important content. A favourite tipple of Queen Elizabeth, who is said to be partial to this as a nightcap, carrying on a tradition set by her late mother. A refreshingly fruity drink with a slightly bitter edge While – sort of – talking about “Dutch Courage”, gin has had many other slang names. You’ve no doubt heard some – “Mother’s Ruin” for example – but others include Ladies Delight, Hollands, White Satin, Royal Poverty and Flashes of Lightening. Coriander is a bold choice, mind you. Some people love it but many don’t. For those that don’t, it’s not even a question of taste. It’s actually a scientifically proven genetic thing. Fifty Pounds Gin & JuniperWith an on-trade focus for 2015 planned and continued exports to Spain and other countries, volume looks set to grow steadily for Fifty Pounds Gin. As always in a highly competitive Gin market – it rests to be seen if it has the provenance and authenticity to make an impact. Charles Maxwell and Thames distillery are highly regarded as both authentic and of impeccable pedigree so they can indeed rely on this as a trump card. However, the third party nature of contract distilling and the fact that Thames make over 70 other gins who claim the exact same provenance and expertise as Fifty Pounds, nullifies any point of difference for the brand. This entire process takes around five hours at which point the liquid is split into three sections, the head, heart and tails. As mentioned above, we only use the heart. OZ Tonic Maison is your classic tonic with a bitter flavour. Serve with Fifty Pounds Gin, sparkling water and an orange slice. ¾ OZ is recommended at a 1:4 ratio. Since the start of the craft gin boom, the tonic market has evolved rapidly. To serve the very best G&T, it’s not only about the gin, but also how you serve it, and in particular what kind of tonic you use. The choice of tonic waters (whether plain, slim or flavoured) is endless, not to mention the range of tonic syrups! By the time you have selected the right garnish for each serve then pondered the optimum glassware (do you favour balloon glasses or are you a highball kinda guy/gal…) you will definitely be needing that drink. A London dry gin deserves a Classic London Tonic Before the Ginaissance really started, the choice of tonic waters was minimal and the quality was not great due to the various artificial ingredients and sweeteners used. These artificial flavourings can create a slight metallic taste, which can also ruin the taste of good-quality gin when served together. You want your tonic to have enough bubbles, long-lasting fizziness and natural flavour, good enough for you to drink it on its own. Some like it more citrusy, others dry and crisp.