Tanqueray

Tanqueray is a brand of gin produced by Diageo plc and marketed worldwide. Although it originated in England, it is now produced in Scotland. It does not command a sizable market share in its native market, its largest market being North America, where it is the highest selling gin import, followed by southern Europe.

Tanqueray is a London dry gin; it is so called because of its distillation process, as well as originating in Bloomsbury, London. London dry gin is made by means of double distillation of grain. Botanicals are added during the second distillation. The recipe is a closely guarded trade secret, although it is known to contain four botanicals (juniper, coriander, angelica root and liquorice).

It is one of Diageo's 16 "strategic brands" earmarked for prioritisation in promotion and distribution worldwide. It sells roughly two million 9-litre cases every year.

History

Tanqueray gin was initially distilled in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury district of London. The retail outlet of Edward & Charles Tanqueray & Co was established on Vine Street, London in 1838. When Charles died in 1868, his son Charles Waugh Tanqueray inherited the distillery, which continued to operate until it was severely damaged during World War II. The only facility to survive the Axis bombing, now known as "Old Tom," has since been moved to Cameron Bridge, Scotland.