Beefeater
With a heritage tracing back to 1820, Beefeater, the world’s most-awarded gin, is the only international London dry gin still made in the heart of London.
Epitomising the spirit of one of the world’s most famous capitals, Beefeater London Dry Gin is produced to the original 1863 recipe. Using copper pot stills and steeped with nine perfectly balanced botanicals, the hand-crafted process delivers a quintessential crisp, clean-flavoured dry gin with bold juniper character and strong notes of citrus.
In addition to Beefeater’s classic dry gin, the brand’s range includes Beefeater Crown Jewel, the pinnacle of its portfolio inspired by the iconic jewels housed in the Tower of London; and Beefeater 24, a super-premium gin infused with Japanese and Chinese teas, creating a distinctive, complex gin to suit contemporary cocktail culture.
Energetic and urban yet steeped in tradition, Beefeater embraces London’s timeless energy, where centuries-old traditions clash with the vibrancy of modern culture. And for a refreshing twist on today’s ever-evolving tastes, Beefeater offers a range of naturally flavoured gins, including Beefeater Pink Strawberry and Beefeater Blood Orange, for a twist on a classic, as well as several RTDs for on-the-go.
Owned by Pernod Ricard since 2005, Beefeater is sold in more than 80 markets around the world.
Beefeater gin, a London dry gin of timeless quality.
London’s best-kept secret
The Beefeater Distillery in Kennington is one of London’s best-kept secrets. It where its gin is still hand-crafted to a recipe that has been virtually unchanged since the 1800s. Housed in an Edwardian building with a 1950s extension, the Beefeater Distillery features original Victorian pot stills and a botanical room, where the fresh ingredients are stored. A custom-built visitor centre now allows connoisseurs to see the original stills, view the distilling process and learn about the history of gin in London.
Beefeater gin shares more than a name with the Tower of London’s guardsmen. It shares the bond to London, past, present and future.
0% Alcohol, 100% Fun
Beefeater Gin’s role as an ambassador for responsible drinking embraces campaigns and programmes that inform both consumers and our employees about the risks of excessive drinking. In 2023 Beefeater added a non-alcoholic version of its award-winning London dry gin to its portfolio of drink offerings.
Inspired by the original Beefeater London Dry Gin, Beefeater 0.0% maintains the brand’s iconic citric and juniper-forward profile but without the alcohol, creating a perfectly balanced and refreshing drinking experience.
Timeline
1820
Foundations laid with the opening of the Chelsea Distillery, which would go on to be the first home of Beefeater Gin.
1863
James Burrough purchased the Chelsea Distillery, which would become the first home of Beefeater, to produce fruit gins, liqueurs and punches.
1876
Beefeater was born with the Chelsea Distillery now under the control of the Taylor family.
1908
Beefeater moves to a new distillery on Hutton Road in Lambeth, London.
1958
Beefeater moves to its present home in Kennington to keep up with demand.
1963
Beefeater accounts for three out of every four bottles of gin imported into the US and was the only gin selected to be on board the QEII’s maiden voyage to New York.
1987
Beefeater is sold to Whitbread.
1993
Beefeater Crown Jewel was launched in 1993 as an ultra-premium expression of the brand, inspired by the iconic Crown Jewels housed in the Tower of London.
1995
Desmond Payne joins Beefeater as Master Distiller.
2005
Beefeater Dry Gin is acquired by Pernod Ricard.
2008
Beefeater 24 is launched; a super-premium gin infused with Japanese and Chinese teas.
2013
Using James Burrough’s original Still No. 12, with a capacity of only 268 litres, the exclusive cask-rested ‘Beefeater Burrough’s Reserve’ is launched.
2015
London Garden, a herbal expression inspired by the botanical garden in Chelsea Physic Gardens in the heart of London, is launched.
2018
Desmond Payne was recognised in the Queen’s New Year’s Honours list and was made a Member of the British Empire (MBE) for services to the UK gin industry.
2018
Beefeater Pink Strawberry launched.
2019
Beefeater Blood Orange launched.
2022
Desmond Payne MBE becomes the first-ever Master Distiller Emeritus for Beefeater following his unrivalled 55-year career in gin making.
2022
Having been discontinued in 2009, Beefeater Crown Jewel, was reintroduced as the pinnacle of the Beefeater range with an updated bottle design inspired by a ruby.
2024
Beefeater 0.0%, a non-alcoholic version of its award-winning London dry gin, was launched.
2025
Beefeater Grapefruit launched.
Want to know more about Beefeater Gin?
Visit the Beefeatergin.com website to learn more about the world’s most-awarded gin, and the only international London dry gin still made in the heart of London.