🥃 Tanqueray
London dry gin founded in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in Bloomsbury; now owned by Diageo and made in Scotland. ABV depends on the market: 40-47.3% (80-94.6 proof).
Tanqueray is a London dry gin brand founded in 1830 by Charles Tanqueray in the Bloomsbury district of London. The classic recipe uses four known botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root and liquorice. Today the brand belongs to the British company Diageo, and the gin is made in Scotland.
At first the business was on Vine Street. In 1898 Tanqueray merged with Gordon's to form Tanqueray Gordon & Co, and in 1922 it joined the Distillers Company, whose successor is Diageo. During an air raid in 1941 the "Old Tom" still survived. Production kept moving: Goswell Road from 1957, Laindon in 1989, and around 1998 Cameronbridge in Fife.
According to Diageo materials and other sources, the classic Tanqueray London Dry contains no citrus. The strength depends on the market: 41.3% ABV (about 83 proof) in the UK since 2023, 43.1% in Norway and Sweden, 47.3% (about 95 proof) in the US and duty free, and 40% (80 proof) in Australia and some other countries.
The range: No. TEN (2000, with citrus and chamomile), Rangpur (2006), Flor de Sevilla, Blackcurrant Royale (2021) and the alcohol-free 0.0 (2021).
Why this matters to you. "London Dry" is a method of production, not a place: Tanqueray is now made not in London but in Scotland. Different versions have different strengths and compositions (some contain citrus), so check the label. The 0.0 version is a separate alcohol-free product, not ordinary gin. The WHO reminds us: there is no safe dose of alcohol.
Facts
| Year founded | 1830, Bloomsbury (London), Charles Tanqueray |
|---|---|
| Raw material | juniper, coriander, angelica root, liquorice |
| Alcohol (% vol.) | 41.3% ABV (UK since 2023); 40-47.3% depending on the market |
| EU category | 22: London gin |
| Legal basis | Reg. (EU) 2019/787, Annex I, category 22 (London gin) |
How it connects to Spirits
🥃 Tanqueray → kind of → 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits → kind of → 🥃 Spirits
Links
- Previous step
- 🥃 Diageo
- Packed in
- 🍷 Wine label
- What it contains
- 🍷 Ethanol
- What it affects
- 🍷 Alcohol and health, 🍷 Drunk driving
- Traditions
- 🧑🤝🧑 British
- Part of
- 🍸 Gin and juniper spirits, 🍸 London gin
- Related to
- 🌍 Western Europe
- Similar and different
- 🥃 Bombay Sapphire, 🥃 Gordon's, 🥃 Gordon's, 🥃 Beefeater, 🥃 Beefeater, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire, 🥃 Bombay Sapphire Gin, 🥃 Beefeater Crown Jewel, 🥃 Beefeater London Dry Gin, 🥃 Aviation Gin
Frequently asked questions
Which wording on a UK or US label shows Tanqueray is a London dry gin?
Look for “London Dry Gin”. In EU law London gin is category 22: the flavour comes only from distillation and nothing is added afterwards.
Why does a UK bottle say 41.3% while a US bottle shows about 95 proof?
The strength depends on the market: 41.3% ABV in the UK since 2023, 43.1% in Norway and Sweden, 47.3% ABV (about 95 proof) in the US and duty free, 40% (80 proof) in Australia.
How does Tanqueray compare with Gordon's or Beefeater on a British shelf?
All three are London dry gins. Tanqueray and Gordon's belong to Diageo, Beefeater to Pernod Ricard. Tanqueray names four botanicals: juniper, coriander, angelica root and liquorice.
Is Tanqueray still made in London?
No. It began in Bloomsbury in 1830 but is now made in Cameronbridge in Fife, Scotland. “London Dry” describes a method, not a place.
Is there an alcohol-free Tanqueray?
Yes, Tanqueray 0.0 (2021) is a separate alcohol-free product, not ordinary gin. Check the label to be sure which bottle you have.
What to read next
- 🍷 Alcohol and health — Alcohol in any drink is harmful in large amounts, and the risks grow with the quantity.
- 🍷 Ethanol — The alcohol formed during fermentation that makes you drunk.
- 🌍 Western Europe — France, the Netherlands, Britain, Ireland, Belgium and Luxembourg: a mild, moist climate, pastures and hundreds of cheeses such as Roquefort, Camembert, Gouda and Cheddar.
- 🧑🤝🧑 British — People of Great Britain; their protected West Country Cheddar matures for at least 9 months, and tea is drunk with milk.
- 🍷 Wine label — The sticker on a bottle: who made it, where from, the year and strength.
Similar
🥃 Beefeater · 🥃 Bombay Sapphire · 🥃 Gordon's · 🥃 Hendrick's · 🥃 Glen Elgin · 🥃 Pimm's
⚠️ Spirit drinks contain alcohol and are for adults only. Alcohol harms health. Do not drink during pregnancy or before driving; check the label for ingredients and possible allergens.
What it includes
Sources
- Regulation (EU) 2019/787 on spirit drinks (OJ L 130, 17.5.2019), Art. 2 and Annex I
- WHO/Europe: No level of alcohol consumption is safe for our health (04.01.2023)