gill of old tom gin

BeveragesYear-round. As a distilled spirit, Old Tom gin has indefinite shelf stability when stored properly and is available throughout the year.

Old Tom gin is an alcoholic spirit containing approximately 40-47% alcohol by volume (ABV) with minimal nutritional content beyond calories. Like all distilled spirits, it contains no carbohydrates, fats, or protein.

About

Old Tom gin is a historical style of gin that predates the London Dry gin category, originating in 18th-century England. Characterized by a slightly sweetened profile compared to modern gins, Old Tom occupies a middle ground between the heavily sweetened genever of the Netherlands and the dry gins that became standardized in the 19th century. The spirit is produced by distilling grain neutral spirits with botanicals—primarily juniper, but also complementary herbs and spices—and typically contains a modest amount of added sweetness (historically from licorice root, sugar, or other botanicals rather than direct sweetening). The style nearly disappeared by the early 20th century but has been revived by contemporary distillers seeking to recreate historical spirit profiles.

Culinary Uses

Old Tom gin serves primarily as a base spirit in classic cocktails, where its subtle sweetness and softer botanical profile distinguish it from drier gin styles. It appears in vintage cocktail recipes including the Tom Collins (named after the gin style itself), Martinez, and Ramos Gin Fizz. In culinary applications beyond cocktails, Old Tom gin is occasionally used in sauces and reductions for game meats, where its botanicals complement rich, savory dishes. The spirit's slight sweetness and rounded juniper character make it suitable for both spirit-forward cocktails and longer, diluted drinks, though it is rarely used in cooking applications compared to other gin styles.

Forms & Preparations

  • Spirit (bottled) — The primary commercial form, bottled at 40-47% ABV by distilleries; used directly in cocktails and mixed drinks.
  • Gin base for infusions — Used as the spirit base for home infusions with additional botanicals, spices, or fruit to create custom expressions.
  • Cocktail ingredient — Primary culinary application in mixed drinks, either spirit-forward (Martinez, Gimlet variations) or diluted with other ingredients (Tom Collins).

Substitutes

  • Unknown — A direct substitute in most cocktail applications; use in equal measure but account for the drier profile by reducing citrus or adding a small amount of simple syrup (0.25 oz per cocktail) to approximate Old Tom's subtle sweetness.
  • Unknown — Use in equal measure as a substitute, though genever is typically sweeter and grain-forward; better suited to historical cocktail recipes that predate gin standardization.
  • Unknown — Combine London Dry gin with a small amount of licorice syrup or sugar syrup (1 teaspoon per 2 oz gin) to approximate Old Tom's flavor profile.
  • Unknown — For cocktails requiring moderate sweetness and botanical complexity, use in equal measure, though sloe gin imparts distinct fruit notes absent in Old Tom.