Fifty Pounds London Dry Gin Rare

Fifty Pounds London Dry Gin. Thames Distillery, London — a resurrection of a pre-Gin Act recipe named in defiant mockery of the £50 levy imposed by the 1736 Gin Act, produced in batches of around 1,000 bottles using botanicals sourced from four continents.

Thames Distillery was established in 1996 by Charles Maxwell, an eighth-generation gin distiller whose family has been producing gin in London since the 18th century. Shortly after the Gin Act of 1736, a family of independent London distillers created a recipe they nicknamed "Fifty Pounds" — a sardonic nod to the punishing £50 tax the Crown levied on licensed gin producers, which only two distilleries ever paid. The recipe was locked away for generations until Maxwell's family recovered it and brought it back to life at Thames Distillery, where the neutral grain spirit is distilled four times for maximum purity before botanical infusion.

The botanical bill draws ingredients from across four continents: Croatian juniper berries, Middle Eastern coriander, West African grains of paradise, French savory, Spanish orange and lemon peels, Italian liquorice, and English angelica root — plus three further botanicals kept secret. Each batch yields approximately 1,000 bottles, and every bottle is individually numbered with its distillation batch and year. Double Gold at the San Francisco World Spirits Competition 2013 and 93 points at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge reflect the quality of what's inside.

Tasting Notes

• Nose: Classic and clean — lemon, lime, and piney juniper dominant. A hint of coriander and violet adds subtle complexity. Lighter and crisper than the palate suggests.
• Palate: Silky smooth and fresh with a core of juniper, zesty citrus, and herbal undertones. Orange, grapefruit, and lemon build alongside coriander and ginger. A gentle tickle of pepper at mid-palate.
• Finish: Long and fresh with floral notes balancing the spice. Slightly warming and crisp through the close.

Specs

• Distillery: Thames Distillery, London, England
• Style: London Dry Gin
• Botanicals: Juniper (Croatia), coriander (Middle East), grains of paradise (West Africa), savory (France), orange & lemon peel (Spain), liquorice (Italy), angelica root (England), plus 3 undisclosed
• ABV: 43.5% (87 Proof)
• Batch Size: Approximately 1,000 bottles per batch
• Size: 750ml

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Frequently Asked Questions

• What does Fifty Pounds Gin taste like? Classic and clean on the nose with lemon, lime, and piney juniper. The palate is silky smooth with juniper, citrus, coriander, ginger, and a gentle pepper tickle. The finish is long, fresh, and floral.
• Why is it called Fifty Pounds Gin? The name references the 1736 Gin Act, which imposed a £50 tax on licensed gin producers — a punishing amount at the time. A family of London distillers created the recipe in defiance of the Act and nicknamed it "Fifty Pounds." Only two distilleries ever paid the tax.
• What botanicals are in Fifty Pounds Gin? Eight known: Croatian juniper, Middle Eastern coriander, West African grains of paradise, French savory, Spanish orange and lemon peel, Italian liquorice, and English angelica root. Three additional botanicals remain secret.
• How limited is Fifty Pounds Gin? Each batch yields approximately 1,000 bottles, with every bottle individually numbered with its batch and distillation year.
• What cocktails is Fifty Pounds Gin best in? Excellent in a classic G&T with Fever Tree Indian tonic and lemon zest. Its silky, citrus-forward profile also makes it superb in a Martini, Gimlet, and Tom Collins.