Fords Gin (45%)

I first met Simon Ford, the originator of Fords Gin, well over two decades ago, when he was well on his way to becoming a globally influential mixologist. (Back when mixology was still far from cool, I might add.) He went on to become the brand ambassador for Plymouth Gin, for which he won Best Brand Ambassador awards from Tales of the Cocktail in 2007 and 2009, before launching Fords Gin in 2012.

The story behind the bottle is that Ford and his fellow bartenders were frustrated at not being able to find a single gin that would serve multiple cocktailing purposes. One would make a lovely Negroni, they said, but fall short in a Martini, while another might excel in a Gin and Tonic but make a dull Last Word. The theory that launched Fords Gin was that it was a true cocktail gin, as splendid in one drink as it would be in the next.  

It was, by all reports, a success, winning Best New Spirit at Tales the year following its launch and bagging the Chairman’s Trophy at the Ultimate Spirits Challenge in 2013 and 2019. Ford sold his eponymous gin brand to Brown-Forman in 2019, although he reportedly remains active in the promotion, marketing, and global expansion of the brand.

As a proper London dry gin should, Fords Gin is water clear and offers an aroma that is unapologetically juniper forward. Hang about a bit, however, and even the juniper-phobic among us will find much to please, from rich floral notes of lily and rose to fragrant orange and lemon zest, aromatic ruby grapefruit, and a gently peppery undertone to it all.

Even unchilled, it is shockingly sippable, with a sweet and floral, almost vanilla-like palate entry leading to a punchier mid-palate featuring layers of citrus and woodsy juniper, with persistent florals and a soft peppery spice interspersed. The finish offers a rollicking burst of juniper tempered by lingering notes of sweet orange.

Chilled to martini temperature, an herbal character arises while the juniper is somewhat supressed, creating a sensation of softly creamy sweetness. The citrus holds up, however, and the structure of the gin remains unimpeachable.

Fords Gin might very well be “made for cocktails,” as the bottle and brand website proudly proclaim, but I would make the counter-argument that it is also fairly outstanding all on its own, or with the dash of dry vermouth called for in an extremely dry martini. In fact, it has been a long time since I have enjoyed a martini as much as I did the one I made immediately after purchasing Fords Gin. 

91 ($43 - $50)