Tanqueray No. TEN Gin

More floral than it's siblings, works best in a gin & tonic.

Essentially Tanqueray's elevated cousin. This small-batch gin is known for its lime-forward taste. That quality makes it unique and I have enjoyed it when having it. As with any gin, my goal is always to drink a gin that can work by itself. This has more character than regular Tanqueray, so it works better than it does. But, this is priced the same as Hendrick's. And, this is DEFINITELY not at the level of Hendrick's.

The more premium Tanqueray offering, I found No Ten to be quite a lot better than the flagship Tanqueray. Unlike the ordinary Tanqueray, this one is not a one trick pony. The nose is floral, with some grapefruit and a hint of juniper. Unlike the original Tanqueray it doesn't hit you over the head with the juniper, but it is still there on the palate. There are also citrus notes and peppercorn. The finish has a bit more heat than I expected, but there are some nice mint notes. Tanqueray No Ten is a good step up from the original Tanqueray. It is well balanced and works very well in cocktails. I like it more than the original in a martini and it does well in a gin & tonic. The higher cost is warranted here, however, if I had to pick between this or Beefeater, I would still go with Beefeater. They are both solid neat and I think Beefeater is a bit better in cocktails, but the fact that Beefeater is also $10 or more cheaper, makes it the clear winner in my books.

I don’t feel juniper at all. Citrus / apple taste at the forefront.

In a dry Martini (1:3). First thing that hit me was a strong earthy licorice. Bit of flowers, but of grapefruit, but mostly gentian for me.