James Gin London Drizzle
James Gin London Drizzle is May's play on "London Dry" — except London usually isn't dry, so he bottled the city's defining weather instead: a 40% ABV, 700mL gin built around petrichor, the smell of light rain hitting warm pavement — and it is available to order online at Del Mesa Liquor, San Diego, CA.
The target aroma was Regent's Park on a hot day just as the rain arrives. Since a key petrichor compound (geosmin) is also present in beetroot, May built the gin around beetroot with bay leaf, lovage, orange, and ginger, over a base of juniper, coriander seeds, angelica root, licorice root, orange peel, and cubeb pepper. Launched in October 2023 as the range's third flavour, it has won London Spirits Competition Silver 2024, The Gin Guide Winner 2024, and Great Taste 2024. Conceived and engineered in Wiltshire, England, and distilled in the UK.
Tasting notes (per the brand): light notes alongside earthy tones with "a distinct rainy quality"; beetroot provides earthy sweetness; smooth, slightly vegetal on the palate with sweet citrus lift over a juniper base; a balanced, mellow herbal finish.
Why buy London Drizzle? Because it is the gin that bottles London's weather — beetroot, bay, and lovage chasing the scent of rain on pavement. Browse the James Gin brand collection, more gin, and other international spirits.
Serving note: over ice with Mediterranean tonic, garnished with sage or citrus peel; good in a Gin Sour or Martinez.
What is "London Drizzle" a play on? London Dry gin — except London usually isn't dry, so this one celebrates the city's rain.
What is petrichor? The scent released when rain hits dry soil — ozone, geosmin, and plant oils; May's target aroma for the gin.
Why beetroot in a gin? Beetroot shares a key aromatic compound with petrichor, giving the gin its earthy, rainy character.
Is it a sweet or savory gin? Savory-leaning: earthy, herbal, and mellow with citrus lift rather than sweet.
How should I serve it? Over ice with Mediterranean tonic, garnished with sage or citrus peel.