Citadelle No Mistake Old Tom Gin

Old Tom is one of the first styles of gins that were actually called gin (before Old Tom, there was Jenever – not technically the same as what we call gin today). The Old Tom style got it’s name from the underground, illegal bars that produced it in the 1700s in London – many of them created holes in the walls so that they could serve gin while maintaining the anonymity between buyer and seller and those holes in the walls had cats faces painted on them. The cats became known as “Tom Cats” and it entered common vernacular “I’m going down to Old Tom, would you like some”.

Old Tom style is having a resurgence around the world and this gin is one of our favourite examples with a heavy cinnamon (cassia root) and star anise flavour. Rested in oak for a short period, it’s nothing like the modern barrel aged gins you may have tried. We rarely describe this as “completely different” but this really is that.