Spirits

Plymouth Gin

Plymouth Gin is a brand of gin distilled at the Blackfriars distillery in Plymouth, where gin has been made since 1793; the standard bottling is 41.2% ABV and the Navy Strength 57%. Its name was once a protected geographical indication, which lapsed in February 2015 when the owner, Pernod Ricard, chose not to renew it, so it is now sold simply as gin. Our Pink Gin is built on it.

Quick Facts

ABV41.2% ABVThe Navy Strength bottling is 57%.

Legal categorySpiritSold as gin; the Plymouth gin GI lapsed in February 2015

OriginPlymouth, Devon; distilled at the Blackfriars distillery since 1793

Flavour Strengthmedium

Our keeping timeIndefinitely unopened. Once opened, years if kept sealed and upright out of the light, though the aroma fades slowly.

Storage

As any gin: sealed, upright and out of direct light. Nothing in it degrades on the shelf once opened.

Allergens

None of the 14 listed allergens. Distilled from grain, but distillation removes gluten, so it is not labelled as a gluten allergen. Recipes change: check the bottle.

The ingredient

About Plymouth Gin

Flavour Profile

Primary Flavours

JuniperEarthy rootSoft citrusGentle spice

Tasting Notes

Juniper present rather than leading, with root character beneath it and the citrus kept soft. Fuller in the mouth than a London Dry, and slightly sweeter on the finish without any sugar being added.

One distillery's gin, protected now by trade mark alone

Plymouth is made in one place, the Blackfriars distillery in Plymouth, in a single copper pot still, its owner says. For years that place was protected: the name carried a geographical indication in EU law, which meant only gin made in Plymouth could use it. In February 2015 the owner, Pernod Ricard, let the indication lapse rather than file the detailed specification the EU then required, and the GB register of protected spirit names does not list it today.

What protects the name now is the trade mark. In practice nothing has changed for the drinker: there is still only one Plymouth gin.

Two strengths, and what each puts in the glass

The two bottlings carry the same name at very different strengths. The table sets them against a 40% London Dry, measured in the 60ml our Pink Gin pours.

Plymouth's two bottlings against a standard London Dry, at 60ml

Plymouth Original

Strength: 41.2%
Sold as: Gin
UK units in 60ml: About 2.5
In the Pink Gin: The bottle the recipe names

Plymouth Navy Strength

Strength: 57%
Sold as: Gin
UK units in 60ml: About 3.4
In the Pink Gin: Much stronger; cut to about 42ml

A London Dry

Strength: 40%
Sold as: London gin
UK units in 60ml: 2.4
In the Pink Gin: Sharper, more juniper

Bottle	Strength	Sold as	UK units in 60ml	In the Pink Gin
Plymouth Original	41.2%	Gin	About 2.5	The bottle the recipe names
Plymouth Navy Strength	57%	Gin	About 3.4	Much stronger; cut to about 42ml
A London Dry	40%	London gin	2.4	Sharper, more juniper

Softer juniper suits a drink with little else in it

The Pink Gin is 60ml of gin, Angostura and the water from stirring. With nothing else in the glass, the gin's character is the drink, and Plymouth's softer, earthier profile gives a rounder result than a juniper-heavy London Dry. For the 57% bottling in other recipes, the measures set out under navy strength gin keep a drink at the strength its recipe intends.

Using it

Using Plymouth Gin

Usage

Our Pink Gin stirs 60ml of it with Angostura, four dashes, and nothing more, and the recipe line names it for that reason. In recipes written for London Dry it makes a softer, earthier drink at the same measure; it is 1.2 points stronger than the 40% they assume.

Pro Tip

When a recipe names Plymouth, it usually wants the gin to sit back. Taste the drink with it first, then decide whether a London Dry would improve it; in a drink of gin and bitters alone, like the Pink Gin, the softer juniper is the point.

Top Tips

Read the strength on the bottle. The standard Plymouth is 41.2% and the Navy Strength 57%; the second needs about 30% less in a recipe built for 40% gin.
Use it where a London Dry would shout. In stirred drinks with dry vermouth its softer juniper lets the wine show.
No fridge needed: a cupboard away from sunlight keeps an open bottle for years.
If the Pink Gin tastes thin, stir it over more ice for longer rather than adding bitters. Only gin and bitters go in, so dilution does the rest.

Possible Substitutions

London Dry Gin: Sharper and more juniper-forward
Old Tom Gin: Where the recipe wants roundness

History & Context

Gin has been distilled at the Blackfriars distillery in Plymouth since 1793, according to its owner, Pernod Ricard, which has held the brand since 2008. Plymouth gin carried a protected designation in EU law until February 2015, when Pernod Ricard declined to apply for its continuation, saying the trade mark gave the name enough protection.

Go further

More to explore

Common Questions

What is Plymouth gin?

A gin made by one distillery, the Blackfriars distillery in Plymouth, Devon, where its owner says gin has been made since 1793. The standard bottling is 41.2% ABV. Most people find it rounder than a typical London Dry: the juniper sits back and earthier root notes come forward.

Is Plymouth gin still a protected name?

No. Plymouth gin held a protected geographical indication in EU law until February 2015, when Pernod Ricard chose not to renew it, judging the trade mark enough protection. Checked in October 2026, the GB register of protected spirit names has no entry for it, so today the name is protected only as a trade mark.

How is Plymouth gin different from London Dry?

In style rather than grade. Its maker describes it as distinct from the more common London-style gin, and it is sold as Plymouth gin rather than under the London Dry name. To taste it is softer, with earthier root notes under the juniper, where a typical London Dry puts juniper and citrus first.

How strong is Plymouth gin?

The standard bottling is 41.2% ABV, a little over the 40% most of our recipes assume, and the Navy Strength version is 57%. In a 60ml Pink Gin the standard bottle gives roughly 2.5 UK units, the Navy Strength roughly 3.4.

Can I use London Dry instead of Plymouth gin?

Yes. Swap in a London Dry and the Pink Gin turns drier and more juniper-forward at the same measure. The recipe names Plymouth, so try it that way first if you can, but any good dry gin works.

What is Plymouth Navy Strength gin?

The same gin bottled at 57% ABV instead of 41.2%. Navy strength is a label convention, not a legal term, and one account traces its use on gin to Plymouth in 1993. Poured at the same measure, it is roughly 40% stronger than a standard gin.

Make something

Made with Plymouth Gin

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Pink Gin

Often Used With

Guide by Jerry Can Spirits · Updated 10 October 2026

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