- published: 27 Jan 2016
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Gordon's is a brand of London Dry gin produced in the United Kingdom and under licence in New Zealand, Canada and several other former British territories. The top markets for Gordon's are the UK, US, Greece and Africa. It is owned by the multi-national alcohol company Diageo Plc.
It was developed in London in 1769 by a Scot, Alexander Gordon, who had opened a distillery in the Southwark area, later moving in 1786 to Clerkenwell[dubious – discuss]. The Special London Dry Gin he developed proved successful, and its recipe remains unchanged to this day. Triple-distilled, the gin contains juniper berries, coriander seeds, angelica root and one other botanical.
The recipe for Gordon's is known to only twelve people in the world and has been kept a secret for 250 years.
In the UK, Gordon's is sold in a distinctive green glass bottle; in all other markets it is sold in the original clear bottle design. Some select airport duty free shops sell it in plastic bottles in the 75cl size.
Gordon's is sold in several different strengths depending on the market. Until as recently as 1992 the ABV in the UK was 40%, but it was then reduced from 40% to 37.5%, purportedly to bring Gordon's gin into line with other white spirits such as white rum and vodka, but in reality to save money (note that the other leading brands of gin in the UK, Beefeater gin and Bombay Sapphire, are both 40% ABV in the UK). In the US, the strength is still 40% ABV. In continental Europe and in some duty free stores a 47.3% ABV version is sold. In New Zealand and Australia, as of 2011, it is sold at 37.2% alcohol by volume.