Joseph Magnus Vigilant Navy Strength Gin
Joseph Magnus Vigilant Navy Strength Gin is navy strength with a savoury streak — 57% ABV (114 proof), 750mL, distilled from a 100% corn base with smoky harissa, four-year-old Italian juniper, figs, fresh mint, lemon, hops and hibiscus. Bottled at the traditional navy strength, it carries its botanicals — and a cocktail — without flinching. It is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor.
- ABV: 57% (114 proof) — navy strength
- Size: 750mL
- Base: 100% corn distillate
- Botanicals: Smoky harissa, 4-year-old Italian juniper, figs, fresh mint, lemon, hops, hibiscus — steeped and distilled
- Style: Savoury, spicy and smoky; dry-medium body, crisp finish
- Producer: Jos. A. Magnus & Co. — founded in Washington, DC in 2015; based in Holland, Michigan since 2020
Navy Strength, Magnus Style
Navy strength gin was built for gunpowder decks: at 57% ABV, spirit-soaked powder would still ignite. The Magnus house — revived in 2015 in Washington, DC under a name that dates to a nineteenth-century Cincinnati whiskey merchant, and now based in Holland, Michigan — takes that sturdy frame and runs an unusual botanical set through it: chilli-smoky harissa and dried fig against juniper, mint and hibiscus. The result is a gin with genuine savoury depth. Find it in our gin collection and the wider spirits range, or see the house on the Joseph Magnus vendor page.
Tasting Notes
Nose: Juniper up front with a smoky, spicy harissa warmth and a floral hibiscus lift. Palate: Dry-medium and savoury — fig richness, fresh mint and lemon through the middle, hops adding a bitter-green edge. Finish: Crisp, sophisticated and warming, the 57% strength carrying the spice cleanly.
How to Enjoy
Built for a Martini with presence or a Gimlet that needs backbone; the navy strength means it never disappears in a Negroni. Garnish a Gin & Tonic with mint and a lemon twist to echo the botanical set.
Frequently Asked Questions
What does navy strength mean? Gin bottled at 57% ABV or above — the traditional Royal Navy proof at which gunpowder soaked in the spirit would still light. Vigilant is bottled at exactly 57% ABV (114 proof).
What botanicals are in Vigilant Navy Strength Gin? Per the producer: smoky harissa, four-year-old Italian juniper, figs, fresh mint, lemon, hops and hibiscus, steeped and distilled into a 100% corn distillate.
Where is Joseph Magnus made? The company was founded in Washington, DC in 2015 and relocated to Holland, Michigan in 2020; Vigilant was first launched in the brand's DC era.
Savoury, smoky and full-strength — buy Joseph Magnus Vigilant Navy Strength Gin online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.