Plymouth Gin

Plymouth Gin is produced at the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth, England — the oldest working gin distillery in England, established 1793 — and holds a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) that legally restricts the Plymouth Gin name to spirits produced at this single distillery. The style is slightly earthier, fuller-bodied, and less juniper-dominant than London Dry, with a distinctive root and earth botanical profile.

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Frequently Asked Questions

What is Plymouth Gin’s Protected Geographical Indication and what does it mean?

Plymouth Gin has a Protected Geographical Indication (PGI) — a European Union legal designation similar to Champagne’s appellation d’origine protégée — that restricts use of the name “Plymouth Gin” to gin produced at the Black Friars Distillery in Plymouth. This makes Plymouth Gin one of the only gins in the world with a legally protected geographic identity: unlike London Dry, which is a production style that can be made anywhere in the world, Plymouth Gin can only legally be made in Plymouth, at Black Friars. The PGI was established in 2014. In practice, Black Friars is the only gin distillery in Plymouth, meaning there is only one producer who could legally make Plymouth Gin regardless of the PGI — but the designation codifies and protects that exclusivity permanently.

How does Plymouth Gin differ in flavor from London Dry gin?

London Dry is a production specification requiring juniper to be the most prominent botanical, with a dry, clean finish and all flavoring through distillation rather than post-distillation additions. The style is juniper-dominant, crisp, and typically citrus-forward. Plymouth Gin uses a different botanical balance: more roots (orris root, angelica root) and earthy botanicals relative to the standard London Dry recipe, producing a slightly softer, earthier, more rounded profile with less aggressive juniper dominance. Plymouth is also slightly sweeter than most London Dry expressions without adding sugar — the root botanicals contribute natural sweetness. The result is a gin that works well in classic cocktails where London Dry’s juniper intensity might be too dominant — particularly spirit-forward cocktails like the Martini, where Plymouth’s earthier, more balanced profile is a traditional choice.